The Meaning of King's Dream

Yesterday, August 28, 2010, marked the 47th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's the now-famous "I Have a Dream" speech rendered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. On yesterday, two rallies were held in Washington, led by persons with very obvious competing interests and interpretations of King's message in 1963 and throughout his life. One of the rallies was organized and led by Glen Beck (conservative talk-show host) and Sarah Palin (former candidate for vice president and a leader of the "tea party" movement) - with the theme "Restoring Honor." The other, with theme, "Reclaiming the Dream", was organized and led by progressive activist, Rev. Al Sharpton. This beckons us to reflect upon the meaning of King's Dream for us today. One of the speakers at Sharpton's rally was Christian social ethicist, Dr. Robert Franklin, now the president of Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA where Dr. King completed his undergraduate studies. Dr. Franklin shared in his remarks that all of those who are interested in King's dream (including Mr. Beck, Ms. Palin and members of the "tea party") might do well to visit Morehouse College where many of the spiritual and intellectual foundations of King's dream were shaped and molded. At its very foundation, King's dream (and his life's work) was rooted in justice - which is both social and political. He stated on more than one occasion that the "arc of the universe is wide - and it always bends toward justice." For King, justice pertains to the moral order of the universe, and is God's divine intent for all humanity. Justice is intended to be pervasive, and involves economic justice (which addresses poverty, inequality and exploitation), racial justice, gender justice, justice for children, justice for those without health care, and just peacemaking (as an alternative to war). Forty-seven years after King heeded the encouragement of Ms. Mahalia Jackson and told us his dream, perhaps yesterday's gatherings should give each of us the impetus to pause and reflect upon the real meaning of King's dream for us - and how after reading his dream and studying his life, each of us might seek to live out justice in our midst.