In Martin Luther King’s America, we value one another

UNSPLASH

The America Martin Luther King Jr. aspired to at the height of the Civil Rights Movement is farther away in 2026 as racial divides grow larger.

Martin Luther King Jr. set out to break down divides in our nation.

I am a product of his mission. I never viewed anyone that looked different than me as “different.” It never truly crossed my mind as a kid. Sure, once I got older and the world puts it in your face all the time it becomes more obvious, but I accept people for who they are – people. As a child in all the blissful innocence I consider it a privilege to have never seen anyone as different because of the tone of one’s skin. 

That’s because of King. He closed the divide – one that should not have been there in the first place. In his “I have a Dream” speech, King said he hoped the nation would rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed. I think it started to work. 

Call it naivete if you will, but for me to go through my elementary school years not knowing my classmates were different because of melanin level, I think King broke through. It is sad, though, to hear stories from my grandparents that they never got the same opportunity to live a childhood where being friends with Black people didn’t turn heads. 

Both sets of grandparents grew up in the 1960s at the height of the civil rights movement. It is heartbreaking to understand their perspective because Black and white — the way it comes across to me — were pitted against one another during this era. 

Fast forward to 2026 and in my opinion, King wouldn’t be happy with the progress America has made. Just look at the last 10 years. National media force feed us news about white people killing Black people and Black people killing white people. Can we take a step back for once and see that these narratives are driving the nation apart. 

No race is free of crime. National media – the MS NOWs, CNNs, and Fox News among others – constantly make it apparent what race did the killing and what race was the victim. 

Stop it! We all bleed the same and should be treated the same. Why should I feel any differently about someone that looks like me being victimized versus someone that doesn’t? Short answer, I shouldn’t. Anyone’s life that is taken should be mourned and what we get by letting major media entities drive the narrative is a hardened heart. 

For that, I am sorry, Dr. King. 

You had a dream that this nation would live out the meaning of its creed that all men are created equal. You were right, but for some reason unbeknownst to me, America wants chaos and division. 

As a Caucasian male working for an African American publication, I see daily the racial inconsistencies Black people face. Until we do better by one another, stigmas will not fall, prejudices won’t end and equality won’t be achieved. 

So, my encouragement to you: Let’s truly value one another for the people we are and not focus on skin color. It doesn’t make us who we are.

It is 2026. It’s time to do better, America. 

Cameron Williams is a reporter at The Post.

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