King’s Dream Turns 50: How Far Has Tampa Bay Come?

By Associate Regional Editor Sherri Lonon

“I have a dream that one day 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."

Those words, spoken by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Aug. 28, 1963, are arguably among the most memorable ever uttered. They inspired a generation and helped spark major changes in federal law.

The Civil Rights Act was signed a short time after the famous “I Have a Dream” speech. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 soon followed. Those two laws combined to make discrimination against blacks and women illegal in America, the NAACP points out. They also gave minorities the right to vote.

But, legal victories aside, how far has America and Tampa Bay come in making Dr. King’s dream a reality? Has society evolved since the days of segregation or do we still have work to do? Share your thoughts by commenting below!