Martin Luther King, Jr. (Jan.15, 1929-April 4, 1968) is remembered for giving hope that our nation might strive for justice and equality. Now, 37 years after his assassination, King's mission is just as powerful and important to groups in Seattle that continue to fight for equality and who hold Dr. King's message as a pillar of hope that our nation, and world, will some day be free from prejudice.

"We have grown as a nation," said Rev. Dr. Samuel McKinney of the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Seattle. "But Dr. King's message has not been totally realized in our nation yet. There are forces at work trying to eliminate the message, or change it to fit their own ideas."

McKinney and King met while attending Morehouse College in Atlanta where both Dr. King's father and grandfather had graduated.

"He was very nice and interesting," said McKinney. "Not tall though--only about 5'9". People always assume that because he accomplished all these great things that he would be big. He was a great speaker, but I remember him entering debates in college and not doing well."

They remained friends for years, and in 1961, during one of King's last speeches in Seattle, King and McKinney went to eat at a BBQ place on Yesler Street downtown.

"We stayed there until four in the morning, just talking," McKinney remembered. "People were walking in off the street just to shake his hand."

Mount Zion will hold its annual church service in King's honor on Jan. 13. On the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday, Monday, Jan. 16, the congregation will reflect on King's life and mission and discuss societies progression towards social and economic equality of black people.

"What can we do to live his dream?" said McKinney. "We are not as close as we need to be. Each generation will determine a different interpretation from Dr. King's teachings."

McKinney believes the Voting Rights Act of 1965 should be kept an important part of the nation's values. The 1965 Act made literacy tests, poll taxes and other restricting voting requirements illegal. It followed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion or origin.

All of this came after events such as the Montgomery bus boycott and more than a decade of anti-segregation protests, speeches and activism as King and his followers struggled for an end to segregation and inequality.

"Dr.King struck a universal note with his words and his message of perseverance," said McKinney. "In his own words, 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.'"

McKinney does say their has been some progression since King's leadership, and sees it as a result of his vision.

"I think people are more aware of the social and economic injustice that still exists among the people," he said.

"The younger generations are much more comfortable with interracial marriage and are a more multicultural society," said Doug Honig, communications director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington.

King's message of social injustice and equality continues to resonate, said Honig. "It reminds us of the progress we have made and the distance we still have to go."

But both Honig and McKinney saw the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina as a blinding example of how far from King's vision the country still is.

When thousands of people, mostly black and of lower economic status, were stuck for hours and days on roof tops in New Orleans and at the Louisiana Superdome after the hurricane struck the Gulf Coast last August, the underbelly of our nation was exposed, said McKinney. It was a clear representation of where our country is as far as civil rights progression, he said.

"Our government's response to (Katrina) really shines a bright spotlight on the inequality that still exists in this country," said Honig. "It's more of an institutional racism--not an overt attitude, but it's built into our economic and social structures. We have equality under the law--can't discriminate on the basis of race--but Dr. King took it farther than that and demanded equality economically and socially."

But instead of talking about change and realizations of inequality, the nation must look concretely at social policies and insist government officials not only recognize the problems but take actions to improve them," said Honig.

"Recognition is important, but there also needs to be an admission of when injustice is happening--not just give lip service and agree that racism is a bad thing," said Honig.

McKinney and Honig stressed the need to educate the younger generations about King's message so the power of his voice continues to be heard.

"Dr. King had the ability to articulate justice and equality in a way that resonates with so many people," said Honig. "We need to give meaning to those values and put them to practice."

Some people think the country has done enough for civil rights, said McKinney. But many still struggle everyday with the notion of absolute equality on the horizon.

"For it to be we really have to work hard at it and teach future generations," said McKinney. "We need strong people. If we need a leader, one will rise up. It's like Dr. King said, 'He who would be free, themselves must strike the first blow.'"