Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudicewill soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will belifted from our fear-drenched communities, and in some not toodistant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood willshine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Were King to return today, nearly 40 years after hisassassination, he would find a shining new world where the “darkclouds” he spoke of his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” have inmany ways passed away.

Today, this nation takes time to remember and reflect onKing’s contributions toward bringing about the level of racialequality we all enjoy today. Educational, economic and otheropportunities abound for anyone – regardless of race – who iswilling to accept the challenge and put forth the effort toovercome any obstacles.

By setting aside a day in his honor, we recognize King’sefforts and the profound effect they have had on thiscountry.

Unfortunately, while the “radiant stars of love andbrotherhood” shine more today than at any time in this country’spast, they have yet to chase away some lingering shadows of racialhatred and injustice on both sides – black and white. Forty yearsis a long time and racial reconciliation work remains to be done,but King’s “not too distant tomorrow” is closer today than it’sever been before.