Civil Rights and the Obama Presidency

They paved the way for Barack Obama's historic Inauguration, to be held just one day after the nation's annual celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Seven icons of the civil rights movement reflect on their progress and setbacks, the meaning of Jan. 20 to African Americans and what King would make of the country Obama will soon lead

One Dream Realized

The Rev. Jesse Jackson

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Mike McGregor for Time

The Rev. Jesse Jackson

I often think — Aug. 28, 1955: Emmett Till was lynched. Aug. 28, 1963: Dr. King speaking in Washington, dreaming beyond our predicament. Aug. 28, 2008: Barack Obama getting the nomination of the Democratic Party. [The Inauguration] is a moment of transformation. But I know the challenges have already begun — and he's not even sworn in yet.

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TIME talks to Rev. Jesse Jackson

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See pictures of the civil rights movement from Emmett Till to Barack Obama.

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