The Dream, The Vision
(3 minute read)
The past few years, I have been walking in gratitude for my mother, my father, the ancestors, and all who have prayed to bring me thus far.
Dr. King’s I Have a Dream speech, delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, before more than a quarter of a million people, was both a declaration of possibility and a prayer spoken with powerful intention.
Those who heard that speech said “yes” in their minds, “yes” in their hearts, and accepted that prayer and its possibility into existence.
Did you know that once a prayer has been spoken, it continues to exist? We can still accept the prayers spoken that day, just as we can offer new prayers now, because there is still much work to do.
Last year, I created my music video, “She Prayed for Me,” in honor of the ancestors. This year, I was moved to offer my own declaration, inspired by the spirit of Dr. King’s dream. If you choose, I invite your “yes”:
A Dream for This Time
(Inspired by the Spirit of Dr. King)
by Sonia Jackson
I still hold his dream.
It is a vision of this world
not rooted in fear,
not driven by greed,
not fueled by the hunger to dominate or control.
I hold a vision where power is measured by compassion,
where leadership honors justice,
and where no nation seeks greatness by crushing another’s dignity.
I envision a time when bullying, whether by individuals, institutions, or governments,
is no longer mistaken for strength,
and when racial injustice is clearly seen by all, named plainly,
confronted boldly, and healed collectively.
I dream of a world released from the illusion of supremacy,
where no one individual, no one nation, no one ideology
claims the right to rule through intimidation, exclusion, or lies.
I long for the day when imaginary lines called borders do not harden hearts,
when differences are not reasons for destruction,
and when peace is pursued with the same determination
once reserved for conquest and control.
I remember, and I still walk in faith, that we will all one day be free.
I walk in faith that one day “We the People” will stand in its true meaning.
That we will love so deeply
that hateful ignorance cannot endure the light of day.
We are the people.
May the dangerous desire for domination be abandoned,
and may the people remember
that the destiny of humanity
is the unity of all life.
We are the people.
May we choose cooperation over cruelty,
truth over tyranny,
and justice over the profits of division.
We are the people.
May we know and understand
that the future of this world
will not be saved by force,
but by unity, courage, and love.
We are the people.
As we look ahead, may the people unite
not in competition or dominance,
but as guardians,
caring for one another
and for the beautiful, sacred Earth
that belongs to all of us, the people.
If you’d like to continue this moment, you’re invited to view the official music video, She Prayed for Me.
Blessings – Sonia
