This weekend, I’ve been contemplating the career of the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Dion, as I prepare for an anticipated phone interview with him in the near very near future.   I couldn’t help but be struck by the serendipity of it, with it being the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday weekend and that one of Dion’s biggest hits commemorated Reverend King.

Naturally, this train of thought led me to reflect on the brave and heroic work of Reverend King as well as his accomplishments and his dream.  As I read the wisdom of his words in his historic I Have A Dream that he gave over 48 years ago before I started work on this piece, I began to reflect on what all has and has not happened since he gave that speech.

I know that great progress has been made in the goal to eradicate racism of all kinds from society.  But we have a long way to go because racism still percolates up from the hearts and minds of men and women of all races towards men and women of all races.  I’ve heard stories from my African-American friends and the true wrong they’ve suffered.  I’ve heard my dear Asian, Hispanic and Jewish and Muslim friends ridiculed.

The biases are demonstrated as much north of the Mason-Dixon line as it is in the south.  It takes place in “red” and “blue” states.  It’s evident in both major political parties despite their claims to the contrary.

Much of the blame can be laid at the feet of politicians from both parties as well as agitators from groups as varied as the Klu Klux Klan to many different religious groups zealots.

Until the hearts and minds of mankind are truly changed and each and every one of us can sincerely look at people from other races as truly equal, Dr. King’s dream will never become a reality.