I do not claim to know very much about the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, but I know that the accomplishments of a man like Martin Luther King Jr. are worthy of celebration. To the question of "Is King still king?", I answer: YES. Any man who makes it his life's goal to advocate for the oppressed and downtrodden is worthy of note and rememberance, and having one day a year dedicated to his memory is the least we can do for one who has achieved so much. MLKJR and his supporters laid the groundwork for administrative and judicial equality in America, and although much work remains to be done towards the goal of ensuring civil rights to every man, woman and child, his early contributions have enabled us to make social progress. It is important to honor the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. not because the "racial question" has been put to rest and he contributed, but precisely because it has not been, and we must keep his vision in mind as we forge our way forward.
Personally, I don't know the names of any modern civil rights leaders, so for me especially, MLKJR looms large when I consider the evolution of race relations in the U.S. For others more informed, different figures might come to mind. However, none can deny that King had a significant, positive impact on the treatment of blacks, and the beauty of his accomplishment lies in its influence on the mindset of America's future generations. Despite the seeming insignificance of an individual life, his passionate devotion to social betterment and the strength of his vision continue to shape America's direction decades after his physical death. The man had a dream, and he lived to fulfill it. The legacy left behind by an individual of such caliber and integrity does not easily fade...so I think that, for now, King is in no danger of being dethroned.
