April 4th 2008- 40 years since the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. 41 years since his "Beyond Vietnam" speech. Interesting where history finds us 40 years later. If you've not listened to it recently, the "I Have a Dream" speech is worth listening to and contemplating.
Although it is not often publicly acknowledged, racism in general and against Blacks in particular is alive and well in the US today. Scores of scientific studies show beyond doubt that Blacks face discrimination in every aspect of American life from the lower pay they receive for their work to the fewer loan options and higher rates they are offered by banks to the stiffer penalties they receive for crimes. If you are unaware of these issues, I recommend doing some research and beginning to become aware of the incredibly skewed playing field of American life that places Blacks at a tremendous disadvantage.
Some materials on the subject:
Washington Post Article
American Apartheid
The Suburban Racial Dilemma
Harper's Article
Example of Housing Discrimination
Harvard Article on Perceptions and Justice
