Few people achieve the heights and recognition of the late Martin Luther King Jr. But we do not honor him just for his achievements, we honor him for his sacrifices. He is frequently quoted on social media and on the news, particularly when discussing how to judge people on the “content of their character.” From his well-known “I Have a Dream” speech, which he gave on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, this is arguably his most repeated line. But when we consider King and his legacy, it’s fair to question whether we have really fulfilled his vision.

We have surely made some measure of progress. Yet it can be hard to tell. People are inherently tribal and those of like experience, value and appearances will gather. Is this exclusionary or is it choice? When we segregate by race it is not always so clear. Can our society ever truly be harmonious? There are limits. Yet it helps to recognize and be aware of our prejudices — as difficult as it may be to believe we can ever achieve a society free of such bias.

This is not to downplay the progress we have made since King’s time, as there have been notable advancements in civil rights, public consciousness, and laws designed to promote equality. Humans, however, will likely never be able to judge someone only on the basis of their character. Not completely. Not perfectly. That is among our faults.

Yet compared to earlier generations, those who grew up in a hopelessly segregated South, for example, young people of the modern era are very different. They offer hope. Even so, can King’s dream ever be fulfilled? Even even in a relatively homogeneous society, there are divisions based on gender, class and religion.

Humans seek to categorize, to group things, including ourselves. This seems to be a constant. Perhaps rather than attempting to destroy that which cannot be cast out, it would be wiser to recognize this failing and figure out how to deal with it in the most extreme situations.

At least admitting our humanity can bring us one step closer to King’s dream. We simply seek further change in our attitudes about how we treat people who are different from us. Racism and bigotry still exist in the U.S. But the vast majority of us don’t deserve that label. Most civilized people think that others should be treated with respect.

Maybe in time, the distinctiveness will start to diminish. King’s ambition was to create a society in which every person has the chance to realize their full potential, not only to abolish segregation and eradicate racial prejudice. This entails tackling economic inequalities, guaranteeing access to high-quality health care and education, and cultivating a political climate in which all opinions are respected and heard. It requires appreciating each person’s worth and dignity and making a concerted effort to eliminate the barriers to equal opportunity.

Make no mistake, equal opportunity is still lacking in many areas of society. That isn’t as obvious perhaps but it’s clearly true. And barriers to equality still exist. To genuinely achieve a society that realizes King’s aspirations, we must remove these obstacles, one after another, after another, after another.

Let freedom ring.