His dream still awaits fruition

To commemorate that historical 28 August, thousands of people, irrespective of colour and creed, gather every year at the foot of Abraham Lincoln Memorial, to renew their pledge to fulfil Martin Luther's dream and also to pay respect to the leader who had laid down his life in their cause at the hands of an assassin. It may be mentioned in this context that President Abraham Lincoln, a staunch crusader against slavery and racial discrimination, became the first martyr in the hands of an assassin in Washington in 1865, at the end of the American Civil War. I will come to it later.

Still a lot to be done

Undoubtedly, a lot has been achieved by the black Americans since the abolition of slavery in 1965, particularly since Martin Luther had begun his struggle for the rights of the blacks, still there is a lot to be done, as Martin Luther's son, Martin Luther King III had declared at the Washington rally last year. It is true that hundreds of thousands of the black Americas have been rescued from the dark catacomb of slavery where they were treated like dumb driven cattle by their white masters. There was a time when in public places the blacks were kept 'out of bound' by bold signs saying, "Dogs and Blacks not allowed." But those hellish days are long gone, no doubt. They now know their identity as equal citizens and part of the American society, thanks to the great sacrifice made by Martin Luther.

Road-blocks ahead

But there are still many road-blocks to he removed for making a smooth sailing for the black Americans to enjoy truly equal rights in their lives, both political and economic. Even to-day in the world's richest country there are innumerable black Americans who live miserable lives in wretched slums, far away from proper education, health-care and decent homes. They still receive their proverbial 'ice' in winter only and not in summer along with the well-off whites. The very existence of impoverished Black Slums not only in New York but also in many parts of that dream-land America, speak much louder than what is hidden behind the dazzling economic boom and prosperity. Mr Jonathon Kozol, a leading US authority on education, commenting on the horrific poverty situation in the black-inhabited slums, had said that the black children still suffer from "poor health-care, schools and homes in New York's impoverished South Bronx," adding that "these kids are innocent; their only crime is being poor in a rich society at a cruel moment in history." Mr Kozol also pointed out that "a five percent tax on the wealth of the Wall Street's 100 richest men would lift them out of poverty." What a revealing contrast shocking poverty growing in the dark backyard of America, while spending billions of dollars every months for maintaining US marines in Iraq! This is a clear indication that Martin Luther's 'dream' is still far from its fruition.

And the leaders and groups that organised last year's celebration of Martin Luther's historic 1963 speech were conscious of this. That is why a broad coalition of more than one hundred organisations, representing the socialists, the communists, opponents of US policy on Cuba, Iran and Iraq, as well as people asking for a better US education policy, assembled to raise a united voice for fulfilling Martin Luther's dream. Moreover, the event also kicked off a 15-month campaign to highlight their concerns about racial, environmental and economic issues and, above all, Bush Administration's much-hyped "war on terror." Undoubtedly, Martin Luther's historic speech, delivered forty years ago, was a "defining moment" for the American civil rights movement.

Now let us have a glimpse of the history of US civil war (1861-1865) waged during the presidentship of Abraham Lincoln who had played a dominant role not only to abolish Negro Slavery from the US constitution, but also had heroically saved America from disintegration into two warring blocks of pro-and-anti slavery of the northern and southern areas.

Victory in civil war: A turning point

The US civil war was a straight fight between two opposite camps -- one representing the northern farm lands who were known as 'anti-slavery north' and the other representing the 'cotton-growing south,' which wanted the continuation of Negro slavery to work in their plantations. With the emergence of Abraham Lincoln, as the President the pro-slavery southerners were increasingly scared by the growing popular anti-slavery movement. And as first step towards secession from the Union, they had already formed the 'confederated States of America,' and adopted a constitution upholding the 'institution of Nego Slavery.' But the anti-slavery crusade declared by Lincoln turned the apple cart down of the southern rebels, when after long four-year war from 1861 to 1865, the great victory was achieved by Lincoln in 1865 on 9 April, with the surrender of the pro-slavery rebels, thus putting an end to their 'Confederacy' dream. And divided USA again stood up as one united country. It opened a new bright chapter in US history, bringing for the first time the black and white Americans at par, at least constitutionally. But the tragedy is that the architect of this great achievement, President Lincoln couldn't carry on his mission as he was assassinated on 14 April, 1865.

It took about a century to start anew the race from where Lincoln had left it. And that was the 'dream' that that Martin Luther King Jr. had boldly announced on 28 August 1963 at the foot of that great martyr Abraham Lincoln's Memorial.

Why not a black US President?

Unfortunately, to-day's America, after traversing over almost one and half century since the martyrdom of Abraham Lincoln, cannot claim to be a land of milk and honey for the African Americans. America is still suffering from the legacy of the old disease of racial discrimination because some are still being haunted by the 'ghost' of slavery. Otherwise, how come not a single black American had been elected President of America during the last one and half century since the abolition of slavery in 1865? Are the blacks of less calibre and efficiency than the white Presidential candidates? How is it that neither the Democrats, nor the Republicans are yet ready to put up a Black candidate? Why this apathy in the world's most popular democratic country, a world champion of human rights?

Time has come for their soul-searching and stock-taking. If a Black American can become a most successful Foreign Minister and a redoubtable C-in-C, then why not a President? It is a pity that even a charismatic personality like Jesse Jackson or Colin Powell couldn't find their way into the Presidency. If this is not a race prejudice, then what is it? Is it not a mockery for the world's largest democracy that when the black American athletes become world champions in field of sport and bring the most coveted laurels for the country, they are worshiped as national heroes, but when the question of Presidentship comes they get the 'smell' of the blacks?

That is why a Canadian columnist in the daily Toronto Star had aptly said sometime back that "the racial inequality is a central and not a peripheral feature of American life. ... The deep structural inequalities that affect every aspect of American life begin with the institution of slavery which made the African-Americans a permanent 'other' in the American life." Hence, the earlier America can get rid of these remnants of the social inequality, the better for them.

Voting right for more blacks

Now the American leadership, particularly the present all-powerful Bush Administration, should be bold enough to call a spade, a spade and put an end, for good, to the old 'psyche' of 'slave-age' in the American society. Let the up-coming Presidential election for which Bush would definitely fight again as a powerful Republican candidate for his second-term in the White House, be a trial ground, at least, by further extending the universal right to vote to all eligible black Americans to participate in the election in greater number. Let, President Bush first put his own house in order, before rushing for ensuring democratic rights of the just 'liberated' Iraqis and spending billions of dollars every month for deployment of thousands of US marines there for 'maintaining peace and security.' Let us wait and see which way the US political wind blows before the up-coming Presidential election and how much of Martin Luther's dream gets fulfilled.

A M M Shahabuddin is a retired UN official.