Martin Luther King's Dream
In the history of any great people, sometimes there is a singular moment that so sums up that struggle and challenges the hearts of the people of the time that this moment becomes one that is both historic and mythical. In the long history the African American in this country, one such singular moment was the delivery of what has come to be referred to as the “I have a dream” speech during the historic March on Washington in August of 1963.
There are many things about this speech that are so poetic that the text of the speech has become one of the great historic texts of the nation’s history as well as of black history. That is why virtually any school child can recite the most stirring words from the speech which are…
And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
What is most striking about this text if you read the entire text is the hope. And it’s a wonderful tradition for every family to read this speech, perhaps on Martin Luther’s King’s birthday which is now a national holiday. Dr. King called upon his people to look up and look with hope toward tomorrow. But more than that, he called on all people to work together toward a shared hope, a hope of fulfilling the American dream that he discusses with such passion in his words.
The setting for the speech was on the steps of the Lincoln memorial, within view of the Congress, the reflecting pool and the White House on the National Mall in the center Washington D.C. Dr. King called it hallowed ground reflecting his deep reference and respect for the icons of this country and his deep love of country which too comes through in the speech.
But it is a speech of struggle because he spoke of the fact that black people in America were still not living in an openly free and equal status with all other citizens. Dr King did not loose touch with the reality of the tough lives African Americans were living in the United States. That is why this speech is so perfectly crafted and so perfectly delivered. It combines the harsh reality and resolve by black leaders and the African American population to make the world better for themselves and their children with a hope and an optimism that this was a country that would not put up with the oppression and discrimination that has kept black people down ever since slavery.
It is a speech that issued a call to action in the time frame of “Now” which was a call to action that many in the houses of power in our country took heed. They did take action immediately to get the process of renewal and repair of a broken social system moving in the right direction. One of the outcomes of this speech was the historic Civil Rights Act of 1964 which changed the fabric of the country forever in the legal restrictions it put on discrimination in every aspect of American life.
If it had not been for the “I have a dream” speech, the March on Washington on that hot and humid August day might have just been another in the many protests and events of the civil rights era. Instead it became an iconic moment in American and black history that changed Dr. King into a national hero for black and white people alike and energized a movement and a nation to take matters into their own hands and make thing better for all people.
PPPPP 690
|
|
|
|
Affirmative Action The history of the growth of equality for African Americans in America has been one of great accomplishments ...
read more
A Troubled Time From 1955 to 1965 there was a war right in the middle of America. No, it wasn’t ...
read more
Black Power In the history of African Americans in this country, there have been some tremendous movements and images that ...
read more
Booker T. Washington As you travel this great nation, it is no accident you will see a lot of schools ...
read more
Brown versus the Board of Education In 1951, thirteen families in the small community of Topeka, Kansas got together to ...
read more
Equal Opportunity Legislation with Some Teeth On June 11, 1963, President John F. Kennedy set the stage for the passage ...
read more
George Washington Carver There is leadership that talks and there is leadership that works and in the hall of fame ...
read more
Harriet Tubman Sometimes when we think of legionary outlaws who gave their life efforts to help a downtrodden and oppressed ...
read more
Jackie Robinson There are a lot of “firsts” in the long history of African Americans in this country. And with ...
read more
Jordon and Ali Throughout black history, great black athletes have served as role models to America’s youth, in a way ...
read more
Laughter That Heals The great thing about the history of black America and the methods African American leadership has used ...
read more
Martin Luther King, Jr. When you sit back and take in the phenomenal achievements of black history, it is natural ...
read more
Martin Luther King's Dream In the history of any great people, sometimes there is a singular moment that so sums ...
read more
Rosa Parks In any great movement which effects great change in a nation or a people, there is something called ...
read more
Slavery Not everything that has to make a mark on the history of African American people is on the surface ...
read more
The Harlem Renaissance The quest for equality and freedom for African Americans has been fought on many fronts. But there ...
read more
The Dred Scott Decision Not every significant event in the timeline of black history is a victory. In fact, many ...
read more
The Fifteenth Amendment When the Civil War came to an end, it was important to take the big accomplishments and ...
read more
The Halls of Power Black history has been a progressive climb from without the lowest echelons of society during slavery ...
read more
The Proud Black American Soldier The legacy of military valor and achievement by African Americans is truly a source of ...
read more
The Rainbow Coalition The struggle for freedom and equality for African Americans is one that is passed down from generation ...
read more
The Thirteenth Amendment Looking back on it now, it’s almost amazing to any modern American that we ever needed something ...
read more
The Triumph at the Berlin Olympics There have been many truly memorable moments in black history where the blatant wrongness ...
read more
The Underground Railroad Sometimes when a people are under their most oppression, that is when they truly are at their ...
read more
Thurgood Marshall In the long history of uphill struggle for blacks in America, there are many notable firsts. In addition ...
read more
|
|
Disclaimer
The Publisher has strived to be as accurate and complete as possible in the creation of this website, notwithstanding the fact that he does not warrant or represent at any time that the contents within are accurate due to the rapidly changing nature of the Internet.
This site is a common sense guide to Martin Luther King's Dream. In practical advice websites, like anything else in life, there are no guarantees of income made. Readers are cautioned to reply on their own judgment about their individual circumstances to act accordingly.
This site is not intended for use as a source of legal, business, accounting or financial advice. All readers are advised to seek services of competent professionals in legal, business, accounting, and finance field.
Any perceived slights of specific people or organizations are unintentional.
|
|
Affirmative Action
A Troubled Time
Black Power
Booker T
Brown versus the Board of Education
Equal Opportunity Legislation with Some Teeth
George Washington Carver
Harriet Tubman
Jackie Robinson
Jordon and Ali
Laughter That Heals
Martin Luther King, Jr
Martin Luther King's Dream
Rosa Parks
Slavery
The Harlem Renaissance
The Dred Scott Decision
The Fifteenth Amendment
The Halls of Power
The Proud Black American Soldier
The Rainbow Coalition
The Thirteenth Amendment
The Triumph at the Berlin Olympics
The Underground Railroad
Thurgood Marshall
| 