MLK, Jr.: Pursuing The Dream

Pursuing The Dream

story by Cynthia Ford

On August 28, 1963, in Washington D.C. at the Lincoln Memorial, thousands of people stood, listening to one of the most powerful speeches voiced by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The speech was titled "I Have a Dream." Like most days in August, the temperatures were high. The large crowd of supporters enhanced the heat as they stood there being empowered by the hope that flowed through that powerful speech. The temperament of the people varied across the land. Some stood with him and praised his works, while others saw him as a rebel and thought that he should be silenced. The opinions of Americans varied because of the continuous turmoil that plagued and continued to divide the people. We encounter different types of people today, as we did during that period of time. Some people are unbothered with living in the status quo. They are unbothered in doing what they're told because they are used to being told what to do. They keep quiet and keep the peace, in hopes of causing "no trouble." They will have no willing part in confrontation if they can help it. Despite how they are treated in the world around them, they keep quiet and stay in their lane. Our personalities vary and everyone has a purpose. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was not a keep quiet, stay in your lane type of person. One of the key components of his movement was to proceed without being violent. He worked tirelessly until the day he died, pursuing the dream. I'm quite sure Dr. King had plans to live a long life, see his children grow up, and to one day meet his grandchildren. He was full of experience and wisdom. Unfortunately, at the tender age of

39 years old, his life was taken. I was not there during this challenging period, but the deeply rooted stories in history will forever be repeated and never forgotten. The "I Have a Dream" speech has been repeated many times since its inception. The words promised a day in which people from all colors and backgrounds will work together in a great expression of unity. The speech declared a day in which the rights that were given to all people are finally enforced. The speech declared a day in which character reigned over skin color and privilege. Dr. King's dream planted seeds that have given birth to many additional dreams. Several left the Lincoln Memorial that day full of inspiration. They were motivated and transformed. They had a choice to either pick up the torch and help make the dream come true or let the dream continue to be just a dream. If you take a look at the world around you, it is evident that someone picked up the torch and began working towards the dream. Think about the natural state of dreaming and what occurs in the body when dreaming occurs. In a natural state of dreaming several processes happen before arriving at the period of dreaming. Through research, it has been discovered that sleep occurs in cycles. One very active cycle of sleep, noted as Rapid Eye Movement (REM), is when dreaming occurs. The amazing thing about REM sleep is that even though your brain s active due to the dreams, the brain is also relaxed, allowing one to continue sleeping. Dr. King dreamed of a new day for America. He dreamed of a platform in which all Americans will be treated equally. Dr. King remained active while dreaming. A portion of his dream became a reality. What did that mean for the thousands of people listening to his speech that day? What does it mean for the people who were born years after those words were spoken across the Lincoln Memorial? Since he died before the dream came to fruition, did that mean the dream could not become a reality? Just as in the stages of sleep, after REM, the mind cycles back around to the other stages. This provides periods of rest before going back into REM. Our work and our dreams do not mean we will not have moments of being still, moments of planning, and moments of rest. We, as the stages of sleep, cycle back around and continue the work. Some picked up the torch and continued the dream. I am a dreamer. I am an active dreamer. Here I stand in REM, dreaming, and pursuing every passion and goal that is planted inside of me. Just as Dr. King did, I speak those things that sometimes seem impossible to the world around me. Yet, I'm still dreaming and moving forward.