Tuesday, March 24, 2009

"I Have a Dream"

Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech is obviously is most famous speech which in a sense is one of the most defining events during the civil rights movement. Dr. King makes a lot of references to the Declaration of Independence as well as Abraham Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation. He is trying to open the eyes of the average American by saying that even though the Constitution says "All men are created equal." that in fact, not all men are "equal" at that point in history. He uses the "Dream" to outline what society could be like if everyone were to begin accepting one another. He points out that Slavery might be over and African Americans are now "free", things like Segregation and the Jim Crowe laws are holding them back from enjoying simple freedoms like a nice quiet bus ride or a nice stroll across the bridge in Selma. He concludes with, "Free at last, Free at last, Thank God Almighty, We are free at last. This quote in a sense sums up all of the struggles and abuses of the Civil Rights Movement...
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2 comments:

  1. AndrewApril 7, 2009 at 7:30 PM

    Im going to have to agree with you on that Mr. King jr. speaks for those who can't speak for themselves about the injustices in that time period. He strives to gain equal rights for those who have been deprived of the everyday freedoms they were promised.

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  2. brad montgomeryApril 7, 2009 at 9:38 PM

    Yes Martin Luther King Jr's. speech was certainly the most important speech of the civil rights movement. I further that by thinking it was one of the most memorable speeches of all time in the United States of America. His strive was for all humans to be created and treated equally regardless of skin color. It was evident that our country at this time period had taken steps since the civil war but it was clearly not enough. "Free, Free at last" is a memorable line that sums up his speech. He fells he accomplished everything he had dreamed of and thanks god for his success. The civil rights movement was one of the better accomplishments our great nation has gone through over its short time period.

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