(Thumbnail image: Christian Science Monitor)

“This nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'  I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. ... I have a dream that my four little 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.” (YouTube)

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, media outlets are discussing the impact of Dr. King on race in America today.  And has the election of Barack Obama, the United States’ first African American President, further strengthened race relations in the United States?

We have perspectives from MSNBC, CNN, ESPN, and The Christian Science Monitor

LeBron James tells ESPN that black athletes wouldn’t be where they are today without Dr. King’s vision.

“When you think of Martin Luther King, he is the true meaning of what a leader is.  He not only led friends and family he led nations, cities, and states all at one time.  Without his words, his power, his strength, and what he believed in we all wouldn’t be in this position where we are today to be able to play this sport and do the things that we do and have the freedom that we have on a day-to-day basis. 

On CNN, viewers say that race relations have improved since Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963 -- 47 years ago.

“And from Emile, 'No doubt, the dream MLK highlighted in his speech is not 100 percent fulfilled, but it is in the 90s.' And from David, 'Our country is on its way to racial equality, but true equality will not arrive until we understand and embrace, that there are no black or white people.'”

But a poll from the Wall Street Journal shows that the percentage of people who say race relations are better is actually declining since Mr. Obama took office. MSNBC has that perspective.

“Change in race relations in the U.S. since Obama has been president… You see now 20 percent say it’s better, but that was 45 percent last year.  And 15 percent say its worse, up two percentage points from January a year ago.” 

The Christian Science Monitor agrees, saying that Mr. Obama isn’t doing enough, and we are still a long way from Dr. King’s dream.

Yolanda T. Moses, a professor of anthropology at the University of California, Riverside: “It is pure fantasy to think that the election of the first African-American President is going to change [racial inequality] overnight.”

John Altman, an associate professor of political science at York College of Pennsylvania: “When the only memorable thing that our current president has done to further the discourse on race relations is to bring together a white cop and a black college professor for a beer, it will be a long time before anything changes.”

So what do you think?  Has Dr. King’s dream come true?  Or is there still significant racial inequality in the U.S.?