I recall the words explaining why we can’t wait spoken so eloquently by Dr. Martin Luther King.

I now realize how profound that one question is. I now understand King was not in a rush for change, he just couldn’t understand what was taking so long for human beings of color to be treated as human beings. Why was government supporting ignorant ideologies of elected officials who carried out segregationist ideas and actions by suppressing reform?

Martin questioned why we were waiting for change that should be our natural birthright such as integrated schools, restaurants, fair housing and employment. And most importantly RESPECT. This question yet again rears its ugly head as today in 2018 we are questioning why we are waiting.

Many in this country believe that we have arrived following the election of an African American president gracing the White House, and many believe that race and racism are no longer issues, that blacks and browns play a role in daily decisions.

Statistical data from across all sectors shows that although minorities are now in the driver’s seat, the road has been closed … there is a detour, someone has purposely installed boulders that create fissures infesting communities with poor housing, under employment, substance abuse, lack of fair education, limited mental health services and medical disparities. Funding has been cut from schools in impoverished communities, liquor stores infuriate minority communities and abandon buildings take on the role of harboring a variety of crimes that continue to poison and deteriorate minority communities.

How long do we have to wait for everyone to recognize there are no excuses for unarmed minorities to be gunned down by police, for agencies to justify these actions, for educational and training programs to be welcomed and for massive incarceration to end?

How long do we have to wait to end the education to prison pipeline? How long do we have to wait to be treated as men and women regardless of the melanin of our skin?

Dr. King died waiting, and it pains me that these same things he died waiting for continue to be the things almost 60 years later that we continue to wait for … and that is to be treated as humans. So you ask yourself why are we still waiting? Has this country really arrived?

Food for thought.

Keeping it real.