European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 19, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The Rev Martin Luther King or. Delivered his famed i have a dream speech from the crept of the Lincoln memorial an aug. 28, j963. By Thomas Ferraro United press International from the voting Booth 10 he classroom Black americans Are belief off1oday twin they were More than i Wode Cades ago when Martin Luther King  me civil rights movement from the Steps of the Lincoln memorial with his i have a dream speech. Still As the first National Holiday honouring me slain civil rights Leader approaches on Jan. 20. Blacks remain several paces behind Whites on nearly All fronts political might education health and income. The unemployment Rale Lor Blacks is about double that of Whites just As it was on aug. 28, 1963. When King stood of the shrine to Lincoln and told 250,000 marchers his dream of racial Equality and since then the number of Black elected officials has soared from fewer than 500 to More than 6,000, most in local municipal offices. The percentage of Blacks aaes 20 to 24, who Are High school graduates has also climbed from 50.7 to 79.6, and the percentage of Blacks Ages 25 to 29. Who Are College graduates has doubled to 11.5.while the figures on backs May show Progress Thev Are s la ten ind those for whi1es we have a h 9school graduation rate of 84.3 be cont Anc a College graduation rate of 23 percent. Although Blacks make up about 12 percent of the population. They hold less than 2 percent of elective offices. Since King and others marched in the streets and Rin at Whites Only restaurants the percentage of uses no in poverty Tell from 51 to 30 Bui tha is still nearly triple the Rale for Whites 11.4 percent. Thanks in la be part to president on poverty the life expectancy of  has the King legacy More than a dream by Thomas Ferraro United press International risen from 63.7 years in 1963 to 71 years in 1905, during thai period the life expectancy for whiles Rose from 70.bto7s.1. The figures Are part of King s legacy which is eloquently reflected in his speech to the 1963 rally thai helped Lead to the passage of the civil fights act of 1964, the voting rights act of 1965 and the fair housing act of 19bb, in that speech King said i have a dream thai one Day this nation will Rise up and live out the truth of the meaning of its Creed we hold these truths to be self evident that All men Are created equal " the Rev. Joseph Lowery of Atlanta was vice president under King of the Southern Christian leadership conference. Today. Lowery Heads i to Sulc and gives a mixed review of the state of Black America. Everything has changed yet nothing has  Lowery said. In the 1960s. Birmingham safety commissioner Eugene Dull Connor put us in Jari and threw away i he key Lowery said recalling when police dogs and fire hoses were turned on marchers. In 1984, the mayor of the City a Block Richard Arrington. Picked me up Al the Airport and gave me the hey to the City. In Attalla we have a police commissioner who is Black. Everything has changed. In Ashburn. Ga., fast year a White policeman shot and killed an unarmed Black youth. Nothing has changed. In the 1960s, we Hado president Lyndon Johnson saying we shall overcome through civil rights legislation. A the 1980s, we have a president Ronald Reagan saying we Shail overturn a Hank the passage by Congress of the King Holiday is significant in thai it recognizes the movement that King  Lowery said. Bui if we Don t use the Holiday to recommit ourselves to the unfinished task of equity and Justice then passing int legislation becomes an empty Victory in i speech. King a Bap Lisl minister proclaimed his Hopes for his children i have a dream thai my four Lille children will one Day live in a nation whore they will not be judged by the color of Ihetu skin but by the Content of their  today the children Yolanda. 30 Martin Iii. 2b Dexter 24. And Bernice 22 work Al the Martin Luther King or censer Tor nonviolent social change in Atlanta whore choir Mother Coretta Scott King is president. Yolanda holds a master s degree in theater and 15 an actress director for a new York theater company Martin is on the Board of directors at the King denier and a lecturer on the College circuit. Dexler is a student at Morehouse cortege in  Britt titty ii i n i ltgt1 to it sunday january 19, 1936 the stars and stripes Page 13