This week we asked readers their thoughts on race relations in America on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

It had gotten a little better, but we still have a long ways to go. Quality of life is everything for everyone to have. But now with the first openly racist president–there’s probably been others before him–but he’s just hitting the hammer on the nail as they say. I definitely have hope that people can walk hand in hand, no matter their color. We’re all human beings and we all bleed and we should be treating each other a little better.
Laurence Anderson
Parkchester

I think we’ve come very far, but we have a long way to go. I think with the election of this new president shows us that we still have things that need to be worked on. There are a lot of things that are hidden, that are still relevant and need to be addressed. I felt like we were on the right path and saw a lot of progress, but the election of this new president you can see that there are still things underlying the surface that need to be addressed. It’s brought more things to the forefront that were still there.
Natasha Ferrell

To be honest with you, we’re living in Georgia now and I would say racism is still a pretty big problem. I have a child who goes to school that’s primarily white and they are still calling him words that are not nice, because of his race and color. I think racism in America is still present, but it’s done now with more diplomacy. People know that they can get in trouble for saying certain things, so they’re thinking these things. Racism is very much alive in the south and here up north.
Daphnee Moise

 

I feel that it’s not race relations as much as face relations, like the face on a dollar. The more Franklins you have, the more peace you have. At least that’s what people think. People don’t really think about race now. If you look like you have money, then you can enter the conversation. People don’t have time for people who are not already successful. If one is successful, then they have time to listen. It depends on the person following their dream. I can just as easily have a problem with a black man as I could with a white man and yes, the two races are getting along.
Tony Belton
Claremont Village

Oh God, it’s horrible, it’s still the same. Nothing’s changed. People are still getting shot down. What kind of change has been made? Sure enough, we did have a black president and where has that brought us today? They are still blaming him for everything that’s happening now with economics, for DACA. They blame him for everything.
Paulette Gordon
University Heights