These past weeks presented a thundering significance to the work of Dr. Martin Luther King: a black man ran for president. A black man not only ran for president but was taken seriously by the American people and, even moiré notably, the American press. A black man ran for president and, even more shocking, his blackness was not so significant as his youth. That black America is actually torn between voting for this black man or voting for the memory of a president who is beloved by them speaks volumes about the hope and dream of Reverend King: that race shouldn’t matter. That our loyalty is divided between two fine candidates leaves us wondering if we should vote for one simply because he is black, wondering if his being black is reason enough to elect him president. That we’re even *asking* that question, that we are no longer so oppressed and so desperate that we’d support anyone simply because of the color of their skin, tells me we have made grand strides towards true equality. Equality meaning that this man can run for president, be taken seriously, and be scrutinized by the American people—black and white—for who he is and not for what color his skin is.

Of course, my cynicism will indeed kick in somewhere here: I don’t for a minute doubt many whites and perhaps many blacks as well hesitate when they’re inside that voting booth. That our good intentions and speeches, our chests swelled with pride at no longer being bigoted, might not stand against the old devils of prejudice and hatred once the curtain is closed behind us. I have absolutely no doubt many people went to the polls to nominate Obama and instead selected Clinton—that the polls in this year’s presidential race will thusly be suspect: as we all talk a good game, but nevertheless vote our fears.

This knee-jerk voting is the Republicans’ best hope in 2008. almost nobody wants a Republican president after President Bush’s disastrous, near-infamous, administration. But many of us, in the quiet of our homes, must realize: (1) those poor choices were about President Bush, not about all Republicans (though we can surely fault all Republicans for backing the president’s reckless policies) and, (2) millions of people, that curtain closed behind them in November, will second-guess themselves before voting for either a woman or an African American.

Democrats tend to be the party of hope. Republicans the party of fear. People vote for Republicans because they’re afraid of something. People vote for Democrats because they hope for something. I have absolutely no doubt the Bush Administration will orchestrate something for us all to be very afraid of come November, just in time for the elections. But the bigger fear is that Dr. King’s dream, 40 years later, is still not fully realized.

Happy birthday, Martin.