Things are not as good as you would think.
Today, a son of a Kenyan father and a American/Caucasian mother, is running for President, and all most people can see in him is that he's not white. To them he's too young, not experienced enough, etc.... Blah, blah, blah.....
They probably think he should be a valet or a dishwasher, but not a Senator running for President.
To most people he is not a man, but, a caricature of a man. Yes, the United States is the nation where being white makes up for lack of education, wealth, or a pedigree. Here, caucasian people still marginalize people of color, just because of their color. Yet, if you're white, you're alright. No matter if your unemployed, on welfare, or a plumber. You're white!
40 years have passed since they assasinated Martin Luther King, the leader of the African American conscience of the 1960's. He was their voice, their hope, and dream. Yet, he was silenced forever on the balcony of a Southern 'Jim Crow', Memphis Motel. In broad daylight his life was taken from him. If he died, his aspirations did not. Yet, 40 years hence, things have changed. But, have they really? When most of the people in the prisons of the nation are mostly black. When a black man has to resort to sports to make a half-way decent salary. Things haven't changed.
Let's not forget that that same year Robert Kennedy, was also killed. The brother of John F.Kennedy, and the Attorney General under Lyndon B. Johnson. Bobby was also running for President in 1968. That was 40 years ago. And things have changed, but not really. We still don't know who really killed Bobby, or Martin Luther King, or President John F. Kennedy. Things change, yet they remain the same, unsolved! 1968, was also the year of the protests against the war in Vietnam, which came to a deadly confrontation in Kent State, Ohio. Remember? So, did we learn from the lessons of 40 years ago. Heck no! First, "we live in the United States of Amnesia"; As Gore Vidal once expressed. The ones that we around then can't remember if they had breakfast; And some of the ones that weren't around then want to re-fight the Civil War. The South Gon' Raise Again!
So, things have changed. But have they? Bill Clinton, jokingly said that he was the first black President. Oh yeah? Well, Mr. Clinton: When I was in the Air Force back in 1975, in Arkansas it was illegal for a Blackman to marry a White woman. And to prevent legal problems, the Air Force would not assign mixed-marriage personnel to be stationed in Arkansas, back then. That same state you Bill Clinton, were Governor of. Yet, in 1993, you became the first black President? But, can a 1/2 black person run against Hillary, and stand a chance? No way! He's not old enough, not experienced enough....blasse, blasse...
See things have not changed.
Another war, another protest song, another cluesless President in the White House. Another 40 years.
Martin Luther King, you were cut down while you were in you prime. If you could see the progress.
Now we don't sit in the back of buses no mo'. But, have things changed? Not yet!
They never will, but you're gone.
Hello, President McCain, Sir!