In the 1960s, Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed a dream at a time when segregation between the whites and the colored was the order of the day in various southern states in the US.

MLK’s dream became a reality and the he successfully put an end to the dark chapter in the history of the US by using non-violent civil disobedience. His dream was fulfilled when the African-American population was granted civil rights, provided with equal employment and education opportunities and the African-Americans started to rise above the poverty line and were seen taking up coveted positions in the civil and military administrations.

The election of an African-American as the president of the United States is a continuation of that dream. MLK was assassinated in 1968. At that time he was well known all over the world. Four years before his death, he was awarded the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize. Ironically, the Nobel Prize Committee awarded this African-American activist the Nobel Peace Prize at a time when an African anti-apartheid leader was sentenced to life imprisonment. The African prisoner was South Africa’s Nelson Mandela. Like Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela had many dreams. Mandela accomplished miracles, but, at the end of the day, most of his dreams remained unfulfilled.

Mandela served South Africa but the country did not serve itself. He opened South Africa to the world. It was a country that was boycotted by almost every country in every aspect. South Africa was banned from participating in world events including sports. He paid a very high price. He lost 28 years of his life in prisons. Finally he was released and the rest is history. But, did South Africa really benefit from the eradication of the cruel system?

It is one of the most advanced countries in Africa and well ahead of many others in science and technology. It is rich in natural resources and is one of the most attractive tourists spots. South Africans enjoy a good democratic system and have a very high standard of living. But things are slipping away. Poverty is on the rise even among the white population and diseases like AIDS are widespread. The gap between haves and have-nots is widening. Criminality is on the rise and if the trend continues, it could adversely affect the lucrative tourism and mining industries.

Mandela transformed South Africa from the least respected country in the world to one of the most admired. Freedom and democracy are good for any nation and so are stability and security. Mandela didn’t fight apartheid to see his people suffer from instability. He gave up his own freedom so that his people could enjoy theirs. At this time of mourning, it is important for the South Africans to fulfill the dreams of a man who spent all his life fighting for their freedom.

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