We asked Page staffers to answer the question, "What would MLK think about this country if he was alive today?" Here's what they had to say:

I think that if MLK Jr. was around to see our world today, he would be astounded and proud of the advances we have made toward racial equality. The efforts of his generation have proven to bring our country to a state of impartiality. Compared to the discrimination he experienced, our country now seems to have undergone a metamorphosis. However, being from this time myself, I realize that we still have more progress to make. Perhaps in my lifetime, we will reach true social equality.

-Brittany Stopa, Foxboro High School

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." Personally, I do not believe that our world has accomplished the goal of living in harmony, it only pretends that it has. Racism and discrimination still affect people every day. Places that some people believe are safe from hatred are still littered with detestation and cruel words. In schools, in work places, even on the street, racism and discrimination soil mankind. MLK would not be happy with our world today, he would be ashamed. Just because issues of prejudice appear to be extinguished does not make it true. These problems are only silenced.

-Felicia Connolly, Attleboro High School The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was a pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala. In 1955, he became a leader of the first great nonviolent demonstration by African Americans in the United States.

If King was still alive today, he would think this country would be better if injustice did not exist. He would say that this country would be better if people would come to a consensus on their problems without involving others.

He would think this country would be better if wars would stop and innocent people would not have to die. He would like this country, because there is not as much discrimination as there was in his time.

His famous "I Have a Dream" speech turned out to be true, and now people are more open minded and more accepting. This is what a country needs to be united. He believed that "one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed."

King is a man to admire because of who he was and what he did for the Civil Rights Movement. He has been an inspiration to me and I will remember and honor him today, tomorrow and for the rest of my life.

- Kevin Najera, Attleboro High School

During the 1950s and 1960s, African Americans began the Civil Rights Movement. Segregation divided the nation between blacks and whites. African Americans were denied housing, jobs and service in stores and restaurants. On Dec. 1, 1955, an African American woman spoke up. Rosa Parks took a seat in the "white" section of a bus. Parks refused to get up and was arrested. Once Parks spoke up, she gave others courage to do the same

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Began a boycott that lasted 381 days. African Americans refused city transportation and city car pools. This boycott proved to citizens across the nation that African Americans could unite and organize a powerful outcome. One step at a time, African Americans overcame segregation. By 1960, 48 cities in 11 states had desegregated schools. This was a big step up for the African American community.

For the rest of the 1960s, whites had to be convinced that blacks and whites were equal. Although racism may still exist today, there are finally no more segregated schools or colored sections on the bus.

If Martin Luther King Jr. were alive today, I think he would be grateful and proud to see that his dream has become a reality. - Lidia Banushi, Attleboro High School

I think that Martin Luther King, Jr. would be proud of our country and the changes it has achieved over many decades. Our country does have a long way to go. There are still hate crimes, racism, discrimanation, and many other problems, but we have come a very long way. Our country has changed alot since Martin Luther King, Jr. was alive. I feel that any big change takes time and the country is conatantly changing for the better, so Martin Luther King Jr. would be happy that his dream is living on.

- Kristi Pedro, Attleboro High School