![[MLK]](ti-mlk.gif)
"If Martin Luther King Jr. were alive today,
what would his dream be?"
"Probably more equality for blacks and whites. It's happening, but some African Americans say 'We've suffered too long -- we're owed something'... To fix things, I'd try to ask gang members why they join and figure out why there's all the trouble and what all the shootings and killings are all about. What they do is important to them and we should find out why... I don't think you can make everybody happy -- I don't think we can resolve racism because everybody wants something different -- but I think we've made progress. King wanted equality... but now it seems out of balance the other way..."
Todd Aylesworth, 10th grader, Redmond
"Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream is still unfulfilled. It will happen, but not yet... At my public school, there are maybe about four or five black people. I don't think they think they're equal yet... For me, I don't notice a racial difference, but when I'm with my black friends -- my Asian friends, too -- people will still look at us... Everybody needs to be more open and not describe people by racial terms that discriminate."
Rachel Mills, 9th grader, Issaquah
"I think it would still be to see people get along -- more cooperation -- and to be more tolerant of each other's differences... It could happen, but in the very distant future. We have a long way to go. People are just not willing to accept cultural differences -- not just skin color, but culture. For example, if you're Moslem, or a Christian, or from Bosnia or somewhere... it's beyond skin, but the differences add more fuel to the fire. And some people make too big a deal out of looking at things from a black perspective -- 'It's the Caucasians' fault'... Yes, we do have a long way to go -- and some of us will make it and others won't -- to where skin color, social differences, economic differences don't keep us from doing what we want to do as a people."
Deborah Abdullah-Smith, A Mom, Bellevue
"I think if he were alive, it would probably be hope for peace, and equality, and less racial tension, which I think still carries on today, unfortunately. I think a lot of things have changed from the days of segregated schools, but there's still a lot to be done... I think the O.J. trial showed there's still a great division between the races, and not just black and white... I lived in Hawaii with a multi-ethnic community, and I think the open attitude could expand over here. There I was the 'big, blonde haole', a Caucasian, and I was made aware of what it was like to be a minority. It was the most eye-opening experience... Even though there are racial problems there, people are living in harmony. And I think that's what King would hope for everywhere. That's what I hope for my child, and I think it can happen. I have to hope that."
Lisa Cochrane, Student, Redmond
"I suppose it would be the same dream as it was then -- equality, peace, that people would all treat each other as people and not as different colored people... His assassination really brought it all into focus. I was in Joliet, Illinois, and my daughter was in the hospital with an emergency appendectomy... The assassination caused riots in Joliet, in Chicago, everywhere. There was a curfew in Joliet... it was all very scary. Everyone was expressing their anger at everybody.... I wish we could go back to more of the idea of the melting pot instead of hyphenating names. Now they say it's a 'salad bowl' instead of a melting pot. I'm just an American. I think we can all be Americans."
Charlotte Helliwell, Retired schoolteacher, Kirkland
"He'd be fighting for world peace and eliminating prejudice and separatism. I think things are getting better, but there's a long way to go. And some places, like in the hearts of cities -- like deep, central L.A. -- have a longer way to go. Eliminating hate would help, but some people would have to throw out some ideas, and a lot of change would have to go on... But I'm hopeful."
Danielle Berry, 10th grader, Bellevue
"Just getting back into shape as far as the country goes. A lot of people are moving here and it's just not a black-white issue anymore, it's human relations. Definitely, we've made progress, but we need to work together more as a people ad instill more family values. This is still the land of opportunity... I hope that everybody takes time out to celebrate the holiday, and think about what it means."
Jeff Turner, Student, Seattle