Fulfilled?

Yesterday was Martin Luther King, jr, day.  Over forty-five years ago, he delivered his famous "I have a Dream" speech.  The question I have heard tossed around, and have thought about, is whether his dream has been fulfilled.

I believe MLK jr's dream hasn't been fulfilled.  

We have taken HUGE steps to attain his dream.  Segregation no longer exists, at least legal segregation.  That, of course, means everything.  They don't have to use separate facilities, they can go to white hospitals, schools, eateries, etc.   Blacks are now going to college and pursuing careers they want.  Now a black man is going to be the president of the United States.  We have come So, so, So far to a place where blacks can live equally.

However, the dream is not fulfilled.  Though it may sound strange, this election is proof that the dream has not been fulfilled.  MLK jr's dream was to have people judge on the content of someone's character, not their skin color.  To translate this into political terms, this mean voting on issues not race.  However, this election was partially decided because people voted for Obama because of his race.  The mere fact that his race was an issue shows this has not been fulfilled.  In a society that is truly harmonious racially, this would not even be talked about.  

There is still a higher level of drug use among blacks.  Still much lower income levels.  Out of wedlock births and divorce rates among blacks are substantially higher.  The imprisonment/incarceration rate of blacks is still higher.  Finally, almost fifty-five years after the Brown vs. Board of education, the academic achievement gap between blacks and other races remains largely unchanged, and black, urban schools are largely failing.

It is another discussion why the dream hasn't been fulfilled.  I believe a large part of it is because blacks have not taken responsibility.  they have largely not taken hold of what they've been given.  Honestly, I believe this is the biggest problem.  In some ways, the government has not fulfilled its duty either and has ignored the problems.  In some ways, whites have not gone far enough to create an equal environment.  But the fact is, the dream hasn't been lived.  The color of people's skin is still noteworthy and noticeable.  People of other races can still feel out of place at times.  It is important, however, to focus on the great progress that has been made, so we can look at the potential of the future.

NOTE: I refer to black people as that, not African-American.  I believe that term, and defining people primarily by their regional ancestry is a product and manifestation of race problems and I believe it furthers the problem.  It shouldn't be noted what region people are from. People are Americans, and they all come from different places.