King's dream remains an elusive goal

Thursday marks the 51st anniversary of the famous March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom led by civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. His "I Have a Dream" speech made on Aug 28, 1963, in front of the Lincoln Memorial, was a cry for an end to racism in the United States.

Just 20 days before that speech, on Aug 8, 1963, Chinese leader Mao Zedong, asked by American civil rights leader Robert F. Williams, issued a declaration in support of African-Americans' just struggle against racial discrimination. Williams and his wife Mabel later went to China in exile to escape the US government's pursuit on kidnapping charges, which were later dropped in court.

On April 16, 1968, 12 days after King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, Mao issued his second declaration in support of African - Americans' just cause.