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The dream is still alive: a message from the president & CEO
Ebony, April, 2008 by Linda Johnson Rice
It's likely that anyone who is old enough remembers exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had been gunned down in Memphis, Tenn., while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel on April 4, 1968.
Such historic events are distinctive markers in our lives, creating lasting memories that don't fade with the passage of time.
Although the Dreamer is gone, 40 years after his assassination, his Dream of equality lives on, and to varying degrees, a portion has been fulfilled. Dr. King would be happy to see that the U.S. Secretary of State is a Black woman, that Black astronauts (men and women) are performing scientific experiments in outer space, and that the list of Black firsts has continued to grow from decade to decade.
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But perhaps he would be most satisfied to see that, in some cases, society has apparently moved beyond race to the point that a Black man--after the trailblazing efforts of Shirley Chisholm, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton--has launched a history-making presidential campaign that has convinced millions of voters that the nation might actually be ready to send an African-American to the White House.
On the other hand, though, the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize winner, who died while fighting for the rights of sanitation workers, would be dismayed that his Dream has not been realized when you consider the poverty level in America, Black unemployment, inadequate health care, a justice system that employs a double standard (Jena 6, Genarlow Wilson, etc.) and a growing degree of insensitivity that allows a White TV broadcaster to joke about lynching Tiger Woods in a back alley.
While assessing what Dr. King would think about the state of Black America, in this issue, we also take a new look at the heart of the King legacy, the monumental Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta. The Center continues to go through a leadership transition while observers and followers continue to ask the question: "Who has inherited the Dream?"
Since Dr. King's death, his legacy has continued to grow and affect the lives of people from all walks of life, including the likes of Janet Jackson, who is featured on this month's cover. In the article, the award-winning singer and actress reveals some surprising information about her personal relationship with music executive Jermaine Dupri, and she also outlines her plans for the direction of her career.
In addition to the revealing look at Janet, this issue also includes our popular annual feature that highlights college queens. These special individuals have their sights set on a wide range of careers, but they are also devoting much of their time to help the less fortunate through community service.
Dr. King would be proud.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Johnson Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning
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