Dr. King's Dream: HBCU Students Reveal Their Modern Day Take

In a post civil rights world how do your young men and women forsee their future?

The world is a very different place than it was in the 1960s.

Young people today have never known segregated bathrooms, bus boycotts and lunch-counter sit-ins. But as we grow into a different era, with an African American president starting the last year of his first term, what does society look like to black twenty-somethings? What do they hope to accomplish in their lifetimes? We talked to students and alumni of historically black colleges and universities to find out.

Name: Ja’Nee Chapman

Current School: Florida A & M University

Major: Business administration with a concentration in marketing

Where she sees herself in five years: “I’d like to be the founder of the top urban marketing PR firm in Mississippi.”  

Where she sees herself in 20 years: “I want to be able to say I’m a successful wife, mother, mentor, and entrepreneur.”

Her biggest wish for the country in the next five years: “There’s a few, but my main wish is that health and financial literacy education are prioritized in black communities.” 
Is Martin Luther King’s dream being realized? “Yes, Dr. King fought for equality.  The opportunity for advancement is available for everyone regardless of color.  The issues arise from people lagging in education to take advantage and realize the necessary lifestyle changes to capitalize and improve their situation.”

(See Also: Revisiting The Dream)

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Name: August Slater

Alma Mater: Howard University

Major: Neuroscience

Where she sees herself in five years: “After having reflecting upon my research experiences, however, I realized that I had a passion for international development, and I am now applying for graduate school in International environmental policy. Within the next five years, I hope to be embarking on my career in international affairs, where I'd like to focus on global markets for food security, climate change, and sustainable agriculture.”

Where she sees herself in 20 years: “In 20 years, hopefully I'll be working at the United Nations as a diplomat.”
Her biggest wish for the country in the next 5 years: “I'd like to see the United States focus more on education; I think we need to work harder to gain a competitive advantage internationally, especially in the areas of math and science. Education reform is crucial. I now live in Washington, D.C., and can attest to the poor schools here. We really can't afford to waste any more time or put it on the backburner.”

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Name: Rinaldo Finsley