A dream deferred

I have a dream that my four 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.
–Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
If time has taught us anything, it is that race has very little in determining one character or ability. At this point in the United States something should be obvious to us, as Americans we must make a collective decision that it is not a person’s race that defines him. Race does not make him the kind of person he is – moral or immoral, violent or peaceful, smart or simple or any more able to commit a crime.
Yet some believe that race defines ones nature, ability or intent. Those that believe race is an essential determinant a one’s nature and abilities are racist. Though this is stated as a relatively simple concept, many of us cannot bring ourselves to accept the truth of it.
Many Americans are on some level racist. Recent events have made the underlying thoughts of the “Racist American” bold and obvious to all who wish to see.
There has been an essential thought that minorities need a helping hand to succeed in academia, not because they are any less qualified, but because they are a minority. This thought lies deep in the subconscious mind of the “American Racist.” The minorities have proven relentlessly that when given the chance to excel they can do so. It is only because there are doors of opportunity that will never open because the color of your skin. Many Americans are aware that these doors remain close to minorities. Yet, the majority is still not in favor of program that assist minorities in opening doors that would not otherwise remain closed.
For example, the University of Michigan, an institution held amongst high for academic achievement chooses to uses race as part of the selection of applicants at their school. Race is used based on ensuring diversity in the classroom; the diversity of intelligence, and individual thought that student brings to the class. Some “racists” say that Michigan is pure example of ” soft bigotry of low expectations.” I believe that U of M uses this method to open the doors of opportunity that has been shut for entirely too long.
The university considers the minority students as individuals, after they remove the doors that racism has kept closed. They consider the minority applicants to be disadvantaged and stagnated, not because they are less intelligent and unable to compete with the white students, but because the playing field has never been leveled.
With the recently passing of the Martin Luther King Holiday, leaders in politics and academia have had a wave of new thoughts. Most have been inspired by the good deeds and uncontaminated principles that Dr. King believed and try to have the nation live by. Recalling King’s dream where his children would “live one day in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character” is a dream deferred. Dr. King’s concept has in this instance been manipulated. If the field in which academia competes in is never leveled then color will always make a difference, but not in ability – in opportunity.