Paying Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I wasn't around when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech, but there's no doubt in my mind that I am benefiting from the impact it made on society and will continue to make for years.

As King spoke from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, what was going through his head? Did he have any doubts? Did he think he was being too edgy? Did he think he would help change the world?

Given at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, the speech is credited for helping pass two important pieces of legislation, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965--African Americans and women benefited from them. Not only was King's landmark speech given at a time of racial and gender inequality, but economic strife, much like we're experiencing today.

As we celebrate King's birthday, take a trip back in history and listen to his speech, then tell us: what significance do you think King's speech and his legacy hold in your life today?

Has King's dream become a reality?