Dr. Brian Alnutt, assistant professor of history at Northampton Community College, presented a Black History Month lecture at The Bethlehem Public Library. Martin L. King Jr.'s 1967 book, "Where Do We Go From Here?: Chaos or Community," was the topic of discussion.

Alnutt opened with topics covered in King's book ranging from income inequality and unemployment to segregation of schools. Many of these problems still persist though there has been some progress in the 48 years since Dr. King's book first appeared in which he laid out his dream of a transformation in America that would culminate in justice for all groups.

Though there are many affluent blacks today in America, the unfair disparities between black and whites in this country are still prevalent and have been growing in some cases. Dr. King had addressed these same problems in 1967, and even proposed solutions, Alnutt said.

One of Dr. King's ideas to transform the country's culture was brought up during the question and answer session: quality education through "super schools." King imagined "super schools" as institutions located in low-income areas, making quality education more accessible to children of less fortunate families. The educational inequality King described years ago has grown worse.

Dr. King was adamant on speaking about the shocking difference in the employment of blacks and whites. The unemployment rate among blacks was double the rate for whites in the time after the Civil Rights Act and that figure still holds up today.

Alnutt emphasized that though substantial progress has been made and the number of blacks filling of high profile positions has increased, not much had changed at the neighborhood level.

More lectures and discussions will be occurring at the Bethlehem library in the future. Alnutt said these types of discussions will need to be held in order for progress to begin to be made inside the community.