"I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American Dream." ~ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

It's hard to believe that it's been twenty-one years since I was stationed onboard the USS Boxer (LHD-4). It was one of my favorite commands. I credit that command for exposing me to different ethnic cultures. I am a better person for it. I remember while on deployment we had a program commemorating the work of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I presented a poem paying homage to Dr. King's sacrifice, honoring his fight for equality and the fact that America was better for the legacy of leadership he left. My fellow servicemembers and I, some of diverse backgrounds and ethnicities were a reflection of his dream. I acknowledged that although our country has made progress we still had a lot of work to do. I joined the military in the '90s, a time when more women were being recruited for military service, and opportunities were available to us that hadn't existed before. However, there were still restrictions. Women couldn't work in certain job classifications, nor allowed to serve on submarines, in combat, or as Navy Seals, if they desired. This was also the era of "Don't ask, don't tell", a policy that was discriminatory by its very nature.
As MLK day was approaching, I read Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech in its entirety then listened to it intently. The words were poignant and relevant as if Dr. King wrote them to address today's issues. We're still combating many of the same disparities 58 years later. It's ridiculous!
I wondered what I would say now if I had to give a presentation. How would my maturation and the experiences I've had as a black woman, veteran, wife, and mother influence what I'd have to say? I think I'd say much of what I write in this blog. I have lived to see moments of history that make me proud as an American; the election of the first black president Barak Obama, and most recently the first black women elected Vice President of the United states Kamala Harris, to the diversification of leadership in business and government to include women, men and women of color, and LGBTQ individuals because of course representation matters. I believe moments like these are the best of what the American Dream represents. It's the very thing Dr. King was speaking of, an equitable opportunity to succeed regardless of gender, ethnicity, race, religion, or sexual preference. It's the freedom to just "be" without systemic barriers that divide us. It's about building a legacy that allows all citizens the ability to live out their greatness then hold the door open for others to walk through. Leadership in America has historically been white and male which doesn't represent the demographic shift taking place in America and everyone isn't happy about this change. There are millions of people that want things to remain the same or even worse revert back to the days of old.
This was evident on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, when white supremacist rioters and supporters of the 45th President of the United States executed an insurrection of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. It was a perverted display of so-called "patriotism". It represented the very worst of America. It was another reminder of the work that we have ahead of us to create a "more perfect union" as stated by the Constitution. After processing my own outrage and sadness, it doesn't diminish the fact that I still dream the best for my country, my family, and myself. I have hope that we'll continue to make this country better as we always have; to create something wonderful out of little or nothing and build toward a better future with every generation. I want to be a representation of the best America can produce. I stand as a beneficiary of Dr. King's sacrifice and a testament to his dream. We have all benefited in one way or another. I offer respect to the memory of all the freedom fighters that sacrificed their lives to challenge this country to honor its ideals "that all men (which includes women) are created equal and have certain unalienable rights, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness", as stated in the Declaration of Independence. I speak the names of Representative Elijah Cummings and Congressman John Lewis, both were giants in the fight for civil rights who worked tirelessly until their deaths last year. Thank you for your service and for daring to dream despite the attempts made to silence your voices. Because of you I still dream.
How has Dr. King's legacy impacted you?
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