Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday was celebrated in Marlboro County and across America with memorial services earlier this month.

Almost 60 years ago, King delivered the “I Have A Dream” speech. When he delivered the speech, one of the things that he asked was that people be judged not by their skin color but their character. While a lot of his dreams have come true, would Dr. King be pleased with the progress that has been made almost six decades later?

Adrian Kinney of Clio believes King would be pleased with the progress that has been made.

“He dreamed that people would not be judge by their skin color, but by their character and I believe that happens today,” he said. “Because of people like Dr. King, we can stand in confidence that we can continue to ‘dream’ like he did, hoping to continue bring about a positive change for all people.”

Marlboro County Council member Dr. Damien E. Johnson felt King would be displeased by the lack of significant progress made in relation to judging others by the content of their character rather than by the color of their skin.

“While there are those who have strived and sacrificed to make this dream a reality, there are far too many in strategic leadership positions in many of our important institutions who continue to use race as a deterrent for economic, educational, spiritual, judicial, and social progress regardless of intellect and acceptable character,” he said.

Johnson added that if we were to ever get to a point in this country and world where King’s dream comes to fruition, everyone must see each other through the eyes of God.

“And realize that regardless of our differences, we must be willing to serve rather than be served and operate in the most important commandment there is…which is to love one another as Christ has loved us,” he said.

City of Bennettsville Mayor Carolyn Prince felt King would be more concerned about the gutting of our voting rights.

“He would ask what happened? How did we let the years of hard work organizing and demonstrating, sacrificing time, money and energy, and the precious lives lost, to ensure the passing of the Voter Rights Act of 1965 that allowed every citizen 18 years old and older, regardless of the color of their skin, their zip code, their income, or social status could vote? In just fifty-seven years, ‘What Happened?,” she said.

University of South Carolina student Jaheem McLaurin believed King would be pleased with the progress that has been made.

“He dreamed that people would not be judged by their skin color, but by their character and I believe that happens today,” he said. “Because of people like Dr. King, we can stand in confidence that we can continue to “dream” like he did, hoping to continue bring about a positive change for all people.”