In 1903, W.E.B. Dubois, the first African-American to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard, said the "problem of the 20th century is the problem of the color line."

Race, predominantly relations between blacks and whites in America, has been the most pervasive and divisive theme in the history of our country.

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the assassination of my dear friend and confidant, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. I had the great privilege and honor to work alongside him for almost eight years as he fought and ultimately lost his life to the struggle for equality. In 12 years and four months, from 1956 to April 1968, King may have done more to achieve social, political and economic justice in America than any other person or event in the previous 400 years, aside from Abraham Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation.

It was Martin's leadership of the civil rights movement and its transformative impact on virtually all institutions within our society that enabled this unique historical moment when an African-American man and a woman have the real possibility of being elected president of the United States.

The challenge confronting America in the 21st century is how to successfully transition from the 20th-century legacy of slavery, segregation and institutional racism to a multiracial society where, in King's words, a person will truly be judged by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin.

King would pray and urge all Americans to recommit ourselves to his "Dream" so eloquently described on a sunny Saturday afternoon, Aug. 28, 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial.

Political leaders like former President Bill Clinton, Sen. Hillary Clinton, former vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro and several of their black and white surrogates —- most with a history of dedication and support for those issues important to the African-American community —- seem to have lost their footing in the campaign against Sen. Barack Obama.

This presidential campaign, more than any other in recent history, has demonstrated that words do make a difference. When the Voting Rights Act was signed by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965, in the presence of Martin and other civil rights leaders, Walter Fauntroy echoed the sentiments of many when he said he was "never more proud to be an American." Yet when Obama's wife, Michelle Obama, used similar words in tribute to those primary voters who voted for her husband, her statement was deemed controversial and criticized.

Obama's recent comment about his white grandmother (after describing their unconditional love for one another) being "a typical white person" who may, from time to time, harbor some racially biased thoughts about black men, was also criticized.

I believe Martin's response to all of this would be disappointment and sadness. He would be disappointed that America, 40 years after his assassination, appears to be still afflicted with debilitating amnesia about its legacy of racism against African-Americans. He would be exhilarated, as I was, however, that Obama had the courage to lead America into a dialogue about the 800-pound gorilla of race relations sitting in our national living room, which previously no political leader wanted to, or was too afraid to, talk about publicly.

Martin might suggest that one of the first acts of the new president should be to convene a special session of Congress, perhaps on the next anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.

It would have one agenda: by joint resolution, an apology to the descendants of slaves whose ancestors were held under the sanction and imprimatur of previous governments of the United States.

No greater tribute could be paid to King than to state to our nation and to the world that America has, once and for all, resolved to publicly heal the wounds from our legacy of slavery.

> Clarence B. Jones was the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s attorney and is the author of the recently published book, "What Would Martin Say?"

 M. RYDER / L.A. Times Syndicate