On Monday, January 21, our nation will commemorate the 73rd anniversary of the birth of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On that day, we will honor the ideals for which he fought and celebrate how far we have come. Thanks in no small part to Dr. King's inspiring leadership, our nation has made extraordinary progress in eradicating discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and age.
But as we take this occasion to reflect upon the meaning of Dr. King's life and teachings, we must recognize that discrimination, poverty, and inequality persist. Some Americans still judge others by the color of their skin rather than by the content of their character. Hatred and intolerance still claim lives. Poverty and unequal opportunity still leave countless citizens without the full chance to participate in the American dream. By rededicating ourselves to the task of eliminating prejudice and furthering opportunity, we honor Dr. King's legacy and help move this nation closer to its highest ideals.
The United States Commission on Civil Rights calls upon our fellow Americans and government at every level to join with us in helping to make Dr. King's dream a reality -- for it is, after all, the promise of America.
01/18/02