In 1963 when Martin Luther King gave his most publicized speech, the Internet was just perhaps in its infancy of becoming the communication medium of choice. Martin Luther King voiced his dream that a united American culture would cash in a check that would benefit all Americans regardless of race, creed, or culture. Television broadcasted the results of a social and political occurrence that moved America to address social, political and economic conditions that were crippling much of the American people and those of color in particular.
Martin Luther King voiced the fact that it took 100 years to get to the place of addressing the problem of what he called a defaulted promissory note by the American government which was set forth by the Proclamation of Independence set forth by Abraham Lincoln. Martin Luther King stated. “. . . One hundred years later, we must face the tragic fact that the Negro is still not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination.” At the time it was the impression of many that it would take another one hundred years to move the government to make changes which allowed for the fulfillment of equal opportunity for all Americans. Perhaps many also felt that a major confrontation would occur to bring this about. The riots that followed the death of Martin Luther King some four years later seemed to evidence this implied assumption.

Change Guidelines
Martin Luther King gave some specific guidelines on how to accomplish the dream. “We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.” He went on to say, “The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

Grass Roots go Viral
When Barak Obama made his bid for the presidency it was a combined grass roots organization of several races, cultures, and backgrounds using facebook, twitter and the viral network to get its message to the viral community to join together for a common purpose. Many African Americans particularly those of the baby boomer generations did not hope to see one of their own to become President of the United States. Yet it has happened in their life time.
This is not only a victory for a specific culture but for the great nation, which has been the home for a rainbow and melting pot of many nations. Martin Luther King’s dream was vested as he said in a deeply rooted American dream. As we continue in this New Year perhaps the dream of Martin Luther King will become a shared reality for all of America, regardless of race, creed, color or ethnic origin, social, political or economic status.