Tomorrow millions around the world will celebrate with the United States as we inaugurate Barack Obama as our 44th President. Today we are honoring one person who gave his life in the movement that helped to make tomorrow possible: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I have already written about my own moving experience of the link between the Civil Rights Movement and Mahatma Gandhi. Now we all have access to a speech given by Dr. King, recorded 50 years ago during his travels through India in 1959. In it, Dr. King talks about how deeply influenced he was by Mahatma Gandhi and his work for justice. You can listen to part of it here.

And tears came to my eyes when I watched this clip of Dr. King discussing whether or not he thought it possible that the United States could ever have a Black president. In it he predicts that it will happen in “less than 40 years.” Watch it.

Yes we did. Yes we can. And most importantly: YES WE WILL. We have a tremendous opportunity in front of us and I’m jumping in with both feet!