by Mark Silva
Today, as a nation marks the birthday of the late Rev. Martin Luther King. Jr, -- who voiced "a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal'' - and on the eve of the inauguration of the first African-American as president, most African-Americans surveyed say the nation has fulfilled the vision which King framed more than 45 years ago.
People are somewhat more reserved about the meaning of Barack Obama's election as president - some see a "new era'' in race relations,'' indeed more African-Americans surveyed say so, in the poll conducted by CNN and Opinion Research Corp. But many say that relations between black and white Americans will remain a "problem'' for some time to come.
White Americans appear more optimistic that the problem will ultimately be resolved - which may have quite a lot to do with the history that different Americans have lived. Some of the numbers are a bit rough, too, with certain "margins of error'' built in - which, somehow, seems appropriate for the question at hand.
The survey of 1,245 adult Americans was conducted Jan. 12-15 and included an "over-sample'' of African-Americans, 332. The results among all surveyed carry a possible 3 percentage point margin of error. The results for black Americans surveyed carries a possible margin of error of 5.5 percent.
Asked if Obama's election as president marks "the start of a new era of better race relations'' or might "result in some improvement in race relations:
A majority of all those surveyed see progress - with 44 percent seeing some progress and 28 percent seeing a new era. Black Americans surveyed are more optimistic about the meaning of the election - with 44 percent seeing a new era and 36 percent seeing some progress. Only 13 percent of the black Americans surveyed said they see no real improvement, with 24 percent of whites saying so.
Yet people remain skeptical of the promise for a resolution of the racial divide in America.
Fifty-two percent of African Americans surveyed say that "relations between blacks and whites will always be a problem for the United States'' and 47 percent say "a solution will eventually be worked out. White Americans appear somewhat more optimistic about that: 59 percent saying a solution will be worked out and 41 percent saying it will always be a problem.
In the short run, however, 61 percent of blacks surveyed say that, "looking ahead over the next four years... the quality of life for African-Americans will get better,''' and 34 percent say it will stay the same. Whites are divided on that question, 48 percent seeing a better quality of life, 46 percent the same life.
A larger majority, however, believe that the United States has "fulfilled the vision King outlined'' in his speech on Aug. 28, 1963 - 69 percent of African-Americans surveyed seeing a fulfillment and 30 percent saying no. Among white voters, 52 percent say the nation has not fulfilled that vision, 46 percent yes.
While you're pondering your own thoughts about that, here's a refresher of the central words voiced that day in Washington, where a historic inauguration will play out tomorrow on the same ground -- the national mall filling with an audience facing East for Obama's address, 45-plus years after an audience faced west for King's:
"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal,'' King told the audience assembled before the Lincoln Memorial.
"I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
"I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
"I have a dream today.
"I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
"I have a dream today.
"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.''
Comments
There is only a problem between races by those who wish for it to continue for personal gain. therefor race will always be an issue. The media is the main force behind this.
Posted by: John | January 19, 2009 9:03 AM
I find it funny how the sour grapes on the right are so beside themselves. They don't understand what has happened to them. Americans have lifted the blanket of fear off them that was woven by the republicans. Hope and optimism has replaced it and that just doesn't sit well with the rabid.
Posted by: bill r. | January 19, 2009 9:41 AM
The election of Obama has shown that this is truly a Nation where one can accomplish their dreams--be they Black or White. As far as the impact this will have on racism, from either side, I see little improvement coming in the near future, due to the fact that racism is founded on the opinions and beliefs one has for another Race--The fact that a President is White or Black will have little effect on the mindset of those so full of Hatred against either Race.
Posted by: Joe Hunley | January 19, 2009 9:53 AM
Obama's election is just so upsetting for the lilly white Republican Party. They have so completely written off the African American community that they have not a siingle African American in elected Federal or statewide office anywhere in nthe nation. This is a result of their basic strategy for the past few decades, the so called "Southerm Strategy" of using fear of African Americans to shore up their support amongst whites. That stategy simply doesn't work in today's america, as shown by Obama's election. The Republicans know that they can't run on their failed policies anymore, and if they can't run on racial division, what do they have left? Nothing. They will just become increasingly shrill and increasingly angry as they get left further and further in the past, with nothing to offer the future.
Posted by: Lou | January 19, 2009 11:00 AM
" The Dream " is far from over. It is about to begin !! As long as any American is denied basic rights, " The Dream " is not fulfilled!! I am including the haves and the have nots, with regards to jobs, to health insurance and, above all, education !!
It's not communism, it is not socialism, it is fairness. Fairness to the worker, who puts his life and limb on the line, for an " honest " day's pay, not 1-20 million dollars, a year !! He or she wants enough in wages to provide a life with dignity and honor. If you want to be stupid and categorize it in the old boogieman's clothes, of commie, pinko, subversive, or agitator, go right head. You saw how effective it was against President-elect Obama's candidacy !! It failed miserably, because, the electorate is aware of the measures, those who are against economic fairness, will go to, to continue to horde the wealth of this nation. A nation of hundreds of millions of people, not just the wealthiest few !! My hope, after President Obama finishes the clean-up, of the messes of the previous administrations, he will work for a fairer America, with everyone enjoying a piece of the American pie !!!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | January 19, 2009 11:22 AM
Don't forget King's dream derived from Lincoln and his antecedents.
King and Lincoln paid the same price.
And no, not fulfilled yet.
Miles to go.
Posted by: ornery | January 19, 2009 11:42 AM
One would certainly pray that we could realize the King "dream". Regrettably, the ignorance level accept as a high school education in most American inner city schools greatly contributes to the propagation of racial divisiveness. Until we eliminate dismal educational conditions and standards within our public schools, offer educational choices for those responsible students who want them, and demand a level of accountability from the masses of students, parents, and educators who put forth very little effort to improve themselves or their lot, we will continue to only make incremental improvement. More money tossed down a rat hole or a new "shovel ready" school will not suffice. Without education, poverty, crime, and bigotry flourish. Obama needs to "change" the status quo, big time, this I could believe in.
Posted by: Bubba Porter | January 19, 2009 11:57 AM
No, the dream is far from realized for anyone that has lived in the south, or even stepped foot down there.
Porter, your still a pug, but you are right about education being important.....I also do not know too many school kids that "want" education, so you might have to revisit your theory a little bit.
John, your comment is on par with something Inky would say. When you get older you will realize that racism is still all around us and the media does not focus enough on it. And hell, I'm in the North!
Posted by: Xcellentform | January 19, 2009 12:57 PM
Which is more of a division in America....race...or politics?
Posted by: bill r. | January 19, 2009 1:02 PM
Posted by: Bubba Porter | January 19, 2009 11:57 AM
So what Bubba appears to be saying is that it's really the black communities fault that there is racism, and that it's really OK to discriminate agains blacks because they really are lazy and shiftless.
Posted by: Translator | January 19, 2009 1:04 PM
I think MLK would have had VERY mixed emotions.
1. MLK was a Republican and would be sad to see the welfare society taking over America.
2. MLK wanted rights for all Americans and seeing Obama elected shows movement in almost the right direction.
3. MLK wanted a "color blind" world, unfortunately very little about this election has been color blind. I have seen colors smashed and colors idealized, I have NOT seen color blind.
4. MLK wanted equality for all. Equality includes men and women of ALL colors not any one or two colors. We are American we are not Euro-American, Italian- American, Asian- American, African- American, or Jamaican, Swedish or any other American we are all in the same country.. we are all AMERICAN, I think he would be extremely sad in seeing how his dream has been perverted by society today.
MLK was a great man. Lincoln as well ( another popular comparison and ALSO a republican) Obama compares himself to these men although he has yet to serve a single day as President. Vanity is long since known as one of the seven deadlys. I pray in the future he and those who have made blind comparisons see some truth behind their zealotry and once again put America ( all of America ) first.
Posted by: Ruth | January 19, 2009 1:52 PM
Good point, "Translator," I saw that in Bubba's post too, though not as extreme, and hope he didn't really mean it that way. He likes to troll and stir up the lefties, y'know. And then there's this fiction from 'Ruth."
Posted by: mort | January 19, 2009 2:13 PM
Ladis and gentlemen. this is truly a historic occasion. Here, today, in The Swamp, we have the very first proof that people can cross over from parallel universes. Let us all welcome Ruth, the cross time traveller. Ruth apparently comes from a very different America, one in which MLK was an anti-welfare Republican. How very different her universe must be from our own.
"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom. " Martin Luther King
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poor_People's_Campaign
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/18/AR2006101801754.html
Posted by: Science Today | January 19, 2009 2:32 PM
Apparently, Translator, all of the racial divisiveness is now propagated in the inner city (you know who that is); all of the rednecks have now been converted; the KKK is disbanded.
Posted by: Flo | January 19, 2009 3:10 PM
"you cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves"...just quoting Lincoln, gents, y'know , like Obama. That is the point of my comment, listen to Obama's own words on responsibility.
Posted by: Bubba Porter | January 19, 2009 3:25 PM
Silly Ruth, do you really think MLK and Lincoln would be pugs today? So some history research and come back with an educated answer. Wait, I'll expedite your education and give you the answer "Hell no". Your reasons for so blatently showcasing Lincoln and MLK as Pugs is either from your lack of history education, or from your blinded promotion of the pug party.
Posted by: Xcellentform | January 19, 2009 4:12 PM
Responsibility is an important issue too, BubbaPorter, and Obama has rightly called for fathers to take responsibility; education is an important issue also, especially schools in big cities. Perhaps, as I allowed earlier, you didn't state your point very clearly in terms of racial divisiveness.
Posted by: mort | January 19, 2009 5:29 PM
Why Bubba...you need to get out of your house a little more. Funny how you find responsibility or the lack of, a "black" thing. My wife was a teacher here in the rural south for many, many years. She can tell you that color doesn't determine a responsible parent. Maybe instead of quoting Lincoln....and just sayin...you could explain what "offer educational choices " means in the NCLB of today. There are no choices. While I agree 100% on the need for a good education and strong support from parents, I find your obvious slant disturbing.
Posted by: bill r. | January 19, 2009 11:11 PM
By the way Bubba...I didn't hear a peep out of you telling McBush to talk to those poor white people and teach them responsibility.
Posted by: bill r. | January 19, 2009 11:39 PM