In his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, President Obama met the moment by outlining commonsense proposals for an America in the midst of a brutal jobs crisis and the worst income inequality in a generation.

Dr. King's legacy of fighting for economic justice for all is just as relevant today as it was when he delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech 49 years ago. In contrast, right-wing Republicans have continue to turn their backs on America's working families.

The last 30 years of public policy have hindered progress toward Dr. King's dream of racial equality. Thirty years from now, people of color will collectively represent the majority of the U.S. population. If we continue along the same governing path, the racial economic divide will remain in 2042 and, in many regards, will be considerably worse.