As we prepare to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we are reminded that on August Dr. King gave his famous "I Have A Dream" speech in the shadow of the Lincoln Monument on the Mall in the nation's capitol. The occasion was the March on Washington, which brought together Blacks, Whites, Native Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans, and many others in the largest demonstration for jobs, freedom, and equality in the history of the United States of America. In his speech, Dr. King stated that his dream is deeply rooted in the American dream. He went on to say "'I have a dream that 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.'" He went on to say that he dreamed of a day when people would not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

During the ensuing 45 years, people of good will everywhere have worked untiringly to bring about equal opportunity in America. On the other hand, there have been those who have worked to turn back the clock on progress. But, as God would have it, the arc of the moral universe has continually bent towards justice, freedom, and equality. Much progress has been made towards the realization of the dream of Dr. King.

DR. R.L. WHITE to speak here January 18. The greatest evidence of progress can be seen in the last election cycle. On August 28, 2008, before a crowd of over 75,000 people in Denver, Colorado, exactly 45 years after Dr. King's "I Have A Dream" speech, an African American, U.S. Senator Barack Obama, and his running mate, U. S. Senator Joseph Biden, accepted the nomination of the Democratic Party as its candidates for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States, respectively.

Other evidence of progress toward realization of Dr. King's dream lies in the fact that age was not a barrier in the nomination of the Republican presidential canditate. Nor was gender a barrier in the nomination of a female as the Republican vice presidential candidate. When the votes were tallied, Barack Obama had been elected the 44th President of the United States of America and the first African American to be elected to the highest office in the land. Not only had change come to America, but the "dream" of Dr. King was in the process of becoming a reality.

The election of President-Elect Barack Obama is the greatest tribute that can be paid to the life, work, and dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Happy Birthday, Dr. King.

Observances of the Martin Luther King holiday in Wilkes County will include the annual breakfast, memorial programs, and the annual parade Monday.

On Saturday, members of the United Community Awareness Program (UCAP) will hold their annual breakfast at the Third Shiloh Building on McLendon Drive, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The program, in honor of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., will include speakers Rev. J.H. Andrews and Rev. C.D. Brown of Augusta. Tickets for the breakfast are $6 and are available at the door.

Dr. R.L. White will be guest pastor for the annual Martin Luther King program to be held on Sunday at the Springfield Baptist Church at 4 p.m. (not 3 p.m. as originally published.) Rev. Samuel Duggan and the Greater Level Hill Church will be in charge of the service.

Dr. White is the pastor and founder of Mount Ephraim Baptist Church, president of the Atlanta Chapter NAACP, an acclaimed Gospel artist, and the author of six books, including the latest, Negro-Ology, in 2006. His ministry is seen on the Word Channel Network.

Finally, on Monday, the annual King holiday parade will be held at 1 p.m. Those participating in the parade will line up at noon behind the Washington-Wilkes Comprehensive High School on Hospital Drive. The cost to enter a float in the parade is $10.