This week marked the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. More than 100,000 men, women and children converged on the mall on Saturday, Aug. 24. It was like seeing the gorgeous mosaic writ large. And tens of thousands commemorated the historic day on Aug. 28. But as we commemorate the speech that may be among the most well-known in our history, we have to ask ourselves why are we commemorating it and why is it important.
The answer is simple and, at the same time, very complicated. Simply put, it is important to remember the fights and the struggles that were so valiantly fought by our forefathers and foremothers; to understand that we did not get here just by going along to get along; and to understand that every right and every achievement have been fought for, and that blood has been shed for something we must hold dear.
But on another level, there is an even more real reason that we must commemorate this march and the struggle in general. That reason is for our children, many of whom do not know a world without a Black president. The only thing that our children, who were born in the last decade, will ever know is that Barack Obama was elected president. While that is a great achievement and it is wonderful that our children will not know a world where they can’t be president, we need to instill in them what it took to get there. We need to show them that if we do not stay vigilant, it may be 100 years until the next Black man or woman is elected president, if ever.
The reality of today is that so much has changed and that opportunities abound, yet, at the same time, the discrimination that exists is so ingrained in society. It is just not always as readily visible as it was 50 years ago, and this pertains to our health care, education, housing and jobs. Racism and discrimination fester in every sore and wound that plagues this country. This deep-rooted infection is so embedded that many perceive it as part of the nation’s DNA. It festers below the surface until it blows up and takes over. We must make our young people understand that this wound will not go away on its own and that we must understand the past and commemorate it and honor it by working to continue to change the future.
While King had a dream, we have a mission, and that mission is to make sure our children understand the dream so that they may continue to fight for it. Let not our struggle be in vain.