God, Creator of this world, Father of all people, brought us here to live as brothers and sisters. To this day, we have not accomplished that. We live in a world where people see themselves as superior to others. We live in a world separated by borders, where people risk their lives crossing on a daily basis. Today, Hispanics are the most common immigrants in the United States. They come to give their families a better life because they, too, have needs.
We live in a world where drugs are a priority to be legalized rather than human beings. I have a dream that one day we’ll live in a world where Hispanics won’t be seen as “illegal criminals,” but instead we see each other with love and compassion. I have a dream that we’ll be able to pass each other on the street and we won’t point out differences or make rude assumptions. I have a dream that one day we’ll see each other’s skin color, language and culture and view these as something unique and interesting instead of making them a reason to be racist.
I have a dream that children won’t be separated from their parents because the parents aren’t “legal.” I dream of a world where people put each other in those parents’ shoes and understand that a family is meant to be together. I have a dream that we’ll accept that we all make mistakes but that, although some Hispanics commit crimes in America, there are people from all races who choose to make bad decisions; and there are also many people from all races who live good lives and make the right choices.
I have a dream that stereotypes for Hispanics will be proven wrong and that we will not judge a book by its cover. I have a dream that one day there won’t be separate groups of students in school, based on ethnicity, but that a “Hispanic group/crew” cannot be pointed out because friendships and groups will be mixed.
I believe that we all need each other in one way or another for certain things. If America wasn’t diverse, it wouldn’t be as great as it is today. I have a dream that one day we’ll all hold each other’s hands and stand up together for our country, our America. When this day comes, America will be great. America will be indestructible.
Evelyn Espinoza, a junior at Poudre High School, received honorable mention in the MLK Essay Contest, which is part of CSU’s Dr. Martin Luther King Community Celebration. The Coloradoan will publish the winners’ poems, essays and drawings through Monday on the Opinion page.