"King's vision through education" response

This article has sparked my awareness to education and how it is not being utilized by students of color. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for justice and opportunity, stressing the importance of education. King stressed how education is a tool for crossing any boundaries, whether it is to increase opportunities, financial earnings, or just to overcome any circumstantial endeavors. Education has been made available to all who are willing to obtain it. However, recent studies and statistics have shown that minorities are not taking advantage of what King calls the great equalizer, in other words, education.
The articled showed how white students are receiving a more competent education than students of color. More white students graduate from high school, attend better accredited colleges, and even graduate at a faster rate than minorities. The article presented an excellent point on how minorities are underrepresented, especially in Colorado which is ranked in the top five per capita for college degree holders but near the bottom in the number of students from underrepresented backgrounds who go to college. I found this interesting. On our campus here at the University of Denver, we are one of the highest ranked schools for international students and from having students from all across the country. However, what about the minorities within Denver? It seems a bit obscured how DU branches off into other states and countries, but neglects the minorities and students of color in its own neighborhood. I am personally torn and angered by this information. However, it is reality, a reality that needs to be altered. Better outreach programs for education would be beneficial in keeping King’s vision alive. As a society, we need to do a better job in increasing the education of minorities and encouraging students of color to obtain a high school diploma and a college degree as well. Keeping King’s dream alive will help our economy and decrease the poverty rate.
In Benton Harbor, my home town, people think that high school is where it ends. They have fallen into this mindset that a high school diploma is all you need and their mission has been accomplished once they have graduated from high school. That is all that they know, so they settle for less. Keeping King’s dream alive would mean not only promoting higher education, but educating minorities on what is out their and their options. We should urge people that a college education is not an option, but is a responsibility and an expectation. The only way America can strive for equality is through education. Decreasing these disparities in education and closing the gaps would better the future for minorities. These are things that we see in our community and must not sit and watch as the education of our minorities worsens.