The guy that they asked didn't say yes or no, but instead hemmed and hawed about how this is historic but really there is a long way to go.
I wish he would have said: "Has the dream come true? What are you nuts!? King said, "we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."
The candidacy is great. The election will be a major step forward. But we have a LONG way to go.
More on the dream, still deferred, not only for black Americans, but for most Americans:
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."²
Sorry to be the voice of doom but we don't know if this is really progress. If he lives through the entire Campaign yeah then it is but that hasn't happened yet. If he wins and makes it all 4 years then yeah it is progress. All it takes to stop progress and destroy this country is one sniper bullet. That would start race riots and then the supresion of them it could even start a race war. I'm not saying that will happen but Barrack Running isn't success yet.
I'm glad you mentioned this, but am simultaneously disappointed at the thought that you may have missed the comments Benjamin Todd Jealous made on the subject on PBS. PBS - for my money the best coverage of all. Of course, stocked with sympathetic commentators (minus one David Brooks) but all were very erudite and had thoughtful things to say.
Ben Jealous, if you do not know, is the President-Elect of the NAACP and is a fascinating figure. He's an extraordinarily accomplished guy and has managed to become the next President of the NAACP by the age of 35. Ivy League educated, etc. - in many ways identical to Barack Obama.
Anyway, the significance of the event and the date in the past was incredibly inspirational to him and he was visibly emotional while talking about it. He said that regardless of whether or not Barack Obama wins, he sees the nomination of an African-American for President as an enormous step made all the more significant because of the date of the convention, as if it were one of those amazing and perfect moments that we rarely see. He's right.
I should remind everybody that this isn't 1962 in Alabama anymore. Vast improvements in race relations have occurred in our country since that time and people need to acknowledge it if they want to be considered intellectually honest on the subject. People always mention that there is a long way to go, as a caveat after every single step large or small made towards racial equality. There is still work to be done, but I think at times the steps being made are often downplayed, particularly by the likes of Jesse Jackson. Not that he is relevant anymore. I wonder if the full impact of an African-American nominee will be felt in its entirety only years from now. I wonder if people fully realize how monumental an achievement Obama has made for African-Americans. I have to say though, it didn't seem lost on Ben Jealous.
Wednesday night was when it finally hit me, that this was a big step. It's definitely not the end, but it's a big step toward racial equality. Whatever millions of little things and big things people have done over the years to achieve a more equal nation, they have been successful in creating a better country for the next generation. Children are not born racist, and the younger generation has proven that they care more about the content of someone's character than the color of their skin. I think people didn't really know how much they had accomplished, this is their proof.
I watched congressman John Lewis on Wednesday night, he was interviewed on MSNBC. This man marched next to MLK, he was beaten in the streets by police, he marched all over the nation, and now he is a respected congressman. This nomination vindicates his struggle. I'm so glad he got to see his life's work rewarded in such a way. He deserves this, and so do all the others who struggled for equality.
That's a nice dream. I hope its not just a dream. The colour thing is so silly scientifically that it makes no sense. Did you know, for instance, that even being a caucausian, you might actually have >40% African ancestry (according to your genes)? "Race" as a concept should never have been defined the way it was. According to modern genetics, skin colour means next to nothing. That dream requires people to change their cultural perceptions. I think paying more attention to science can pave the way. We do NOT need people who insist on teaching special creation in schools because the whole idea is laced with irrational prejudice against modern science.
Must. Stop. Ranting.