Twenty years after President Ronald Reagan made the third Monday of every January Martin Luther King Day, Memphis has made progress in the ongoing struggle for equality.
Signs of King's dream starting to become reality are everywhere. From diversity at The University of Memphis campus to the minority-owned businesses that line Memphis streets, changes are evident.
"Over the past 20 years there have definitely been changes made," said Steven Mulroy, law professor and civil rights expert. "It has become much less acceptable to discriminate or speak in a discriminatory manner.
"While societal attitudes have changed for the better, there has not been dramatic economic progress for African-Americans."
According to Jan Coleman, a U of M English professor, Memphis native and author of "River in My Soul: Tales of a Memphis Southern Belle," the city has made progress in providing education to minorities.
"The opportunities have definitely improved over the years, but since economics and education are tied together, those who are educated usually fare better than those who are not," she said.
Although the majority of students currently enrolled at The U of M were born after the Civil Rights era, the importance of the movement and the struggles for equality are well understood.
"We've come a long way but we all still have a long way to go," said Daniel Carter, a junior history major. "The King holiday is a symbol of what people fought for and it shouldn't be taken for granted."
However, some students do not understand the meaning behind the holiday.
"People see it as just a free day, not really acknowledging what it stands for," said William Harris, a sophomore computer engineering technology major. "The schools aren't really making students understand the symbolism of the day."
Outsiders coming to The U of M have a similar view.
Tiffany Manley, a sophomore accounting major said, "We still have a long ways to go and we have to work for the good of all people."
