Reflections on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Like many in retail I did not have the luxury of a day off on Martin Luther King Junior's birthday. Management was hoping for a busy day as more shoppers would be freed from school and jobs due to the Federal holiday. I didn't attend any parades today, though in truth I rarely attend any parades. I didn't participate in any commemoration services, but I did take time to reflect on the legacy of King and the Civil Rights movement. The world that I live in is totally different than King's world and that is what he worked hard to achieve.
My store manager and the majority of the store staff are African American, though there are also a wide range of races and nationalities represented. The store staff is not judged by the color of their skin, but by how well they have achieved their sales goals. I ate lunch in the break room with three African Americans and one Hispanic. At the time I did not even think about it, but only later as I was reflecting on the Civil Rights movement. There is one set of public restrooms and four water fountains that are available to everyone. Customers of all races are welcomed to shop without any separation or discrimination. This would have been unimaginable fifty years ago.
I grew up in an integrated school system. The only time I have ever seen a "white only" restroom or water fountain is in pictures or documentaries on PBS. An integrated school, workplace and society seem natural to me. These realities came at a tremendous cost and King paid greatly for his role. King and many unnamed others, both black and white, worked hard to create a new society. Racism still remains and probably always will. However, we live in an America that cherishes King's dream of a colorblind society. There is still work to do, but a great deal has been accomplished and that should be celebrated.