Fifty years ago, one man stood at the forefront of our nation’s identity struggle.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. challenged Americans to consider what the framers of the U.S. Constitution really meant when they penned a magnificent sentence that serves as the cornerstone for our country.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

The line has no footnote to explain it applied only to rich people or only to white people.

But Americans, particularly in the South, had added that footnote in their minds. King lived in a world separated by race. He was brave enough to stand up and challenge that. Thank God he did.

America needed King to point out the moral blind spot that existed in many parts of our nation.

His pointed words struck a chord with America. King rightfully challenged us all to realize that if America is to be a great nation, race must not separate us.

This week, after the nation marked 50 years since King delivered his speech, we have to wonder, how have King’s words affected our nation?

Clearly, the nation is less racially divided than it was in 1963, but much work continues to be needed.

King looked to the heavens for guidance and, he said, our nation’s faith would be the answer to our differences.

“With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.”

Let us all pray his words come true in our lifetime.