Dreams Come True

In Washington D.C., Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a historically memorable speech at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Aug. 28, 1963. 

King opened his speech by stating, “I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.”

The demonstration that King was referring to was the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedoms.

He gave the proclaimed, “I Have a Dream” speech to over 200,000 of his supporters for the American Civil Rights Movement.

King correlates the modern life of African Americans to be similar to the life of African Americans 100 years ago.

King stated, “The negro finds himself in exile in his own land.”

King expressed his desire for black men as well and white men to have life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

King explained that African Americans had been given a “America has given the negro people a bad check.  A check that has come back marked insufficient funds.”

During King’s speech, his supporters reinforce their strong respect and enthusiasm for King with applause.

King stated, “1963 is not an end, but is a beginning for African American civil rights.”

Martin Luther King Shakes a Marching Crowd

By Nathaly Duran

August 28, 1963 at the feet of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. as part of the March for Jobs and Freedom for African Americans, Reverent Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a speech in front of a crowd of about 300,000 people.

Martin Luther King who is widely recognized for being a pacifist, spoke to the presents of this event of how one hundred years later after the signing of the Emancipation, the “Negro” is still a slave of segregation, discrimination and prejudices, mentioning the different atrocities that are still being committed against the African American community at all levels : social, educational, governmental, and psychological.

During his speech Rv. Luther King stated that freedom must be fought in a peaceful manner, until the day in which the African American community of this country is “satisfied” with the results, as said on this portion of his speech “And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, “When will you be satisfied?” We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro’s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

Source:
Martin Luther King’s Speech for the March for Jobs and Freedom in 1963 (Video file). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbUtL_0vAJk

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gives an impelling speech to thousands in D.C.

By: Amelia Gutierrez

I created a lead in the MLK speech. I begin speaking at :31 seconds.

What was predicted to be a small number to partake in the March of Washington for Jobs and Freedom, surprised many when more than 250,000 people participated in the march on August 28, 1963. What became as one of the most defining moments of the American Civil Rights movement, was not the large crowd, but rather the empowering and motivational speech delivered by Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. where he called for racial equality and an end to discrimination that left the greatest impression in our heart and in our mind.

To watch the rest of the MLK speeh watch this video.

A Demonstration of Nonviolence Calls for Honoring Human Rights

Dr. Martin Luther King addressing the peaceful crowd in D.C. The Stream. Retrieved March 30, 2011.

By: Viviana Garcia

On August 28, 1963, the quest for human rights in this country reached a climax as the issue became the very crux of Dr. Martin Luther King’s speech. During a demonstration of thousands rallying for freedom in Washington D.C., the “moral leader of our country,” reminded the crowd that 100 years after the Constitution and Declaration of Independence were signed, African Americans are still cast out from society and lack the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

“Let us not wallow in the valley of despair,” said King, “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.”

This movement of nonviolence beckons for those opposed to listen closely to what is innately human and what simply cannot be taken away by a government refusing to acknowledge these truths.

“Let freedom ring,” shouted Dr. King, “let freedom ring!”

A powerful appeal from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial

By: Jonathan Simmons

Speaking before thousands gathered at the National Mall in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. addressed the nation to present a vivid image of the potential of an American future free from of racial discrimination.

King’s speech, called the “I Have a Dream” speech and by far his most famous, was delivered, significantly, from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial — the nation’s monument to the president who ended slavery.

King began his address with a powerful appeal to the promise held in the higher ideals of the nation’s history, and a condemnation of the manner in which slavery and institutionalized racism had robbed black people of that promise. He then moved on to speak of his hope that America had the potential to transform itself into a nation which lived up to its loftiest ideals.

The Biblical allusions punctuating King’s speech, and his powerful use of metaphor (“the flames of withering injustice” and “the warm threshold which leads to the palace of justice”) and repetition (such as the repetition of the words “I have a dream” and “let freedom ring”) contributed to its status as one of the most famous works of American oratory.

King’s speech was broadcast live, and the televised image of an articulate black man arguing with great force, conviction and humanity about the evils of prejudice and the nation’s potential to rise above it clearly undermined racist stereotypes. The “I have a Dream” speech energized the civil rights movement and became one of the most widely cited examples of the power of oratory to effect social change.

“The Monumental Speech of Martin Luther King Jr.”

By: Ashley Williams

The nation’s capital, Washington D.C. in August 23,1968, marked the day in history where Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous monumental speech “I Have a Dream”. Set on a hot day in Washington in front of thousands he refers back to life in Alabama and says, I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation, and that it was. (1)

MLKs’ speech came during a time where people wanted and needed change and this heart-felt, encouraging, speech was what people needed to fight for their freedom. He uses “I have a Dream’ rhetorically after every statement to prove his point and place emphasis on what he was saying. “I have a dream, I have A dream, I have a dream,” Martin states often.

“I Have a Dream” speech touched the hearts of many, set the platform for the beginning of the civil rights movement. His speech was full of hope, serenity, and promise for the many African-Americans struggling for freedom and equality. “I Have A Dream” was one of the most memorable speeches of all time and continues to resonate until this day.

He ends his speech with the last moment of “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last! and this day set a new beginning for everyone around the world.”

Sources:

(1) Warren , S. (2006, January 4). MLK SPEECH . Retrieved March 30, 2011, from http://www.mlkonline.net/dream.html

King Jr.’s “I have a dream”: Moving metaphors

By: Ana Milanes

At the Washington D.C. civil rights march on August 28th, 1963, Martin Luther King Junior delivered his notorious “I Have a Dream” speech which inspired many to continue with the movement for the end of discrimination.

“One hundred years ago,” begins King Jr., “the proclamation was signed by Abraham Lincoln to free slaves and gain equality for negroes. At the time, African Americans were hindered by poverty, exile, segregation and discrimination.”

King calls on a powerful metaphor of coming to cash a check at the Capitol. America’s check was bad, all promises in that proclamation had been broken. The speech promised no rest for America until African American’s had rights. He motivated followers to not drink from the cup of hatred in order to quench their thirst for freedom. “There would be no satisfaction,” he continues, “until justice rolls down like water to a mighty stream.”

King’s dream is of a fair world where skin color is unimportant in the grand scheme, “Where (my children) will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character”.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s Dream

http://www.thrivebuffalo.org/following-the-dream/tag/concerned-citizens-following-the-dream. Retrieved March 28, 2011.

By: Joeli Prieto

On Aug. 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I Have A Dream” speech on the National Mall in Washington D.C. King’s speech was about racial equality and encouraged people to help put an end to discrimination.

King’s speech took place during the Jobs and Freedom March. Over 200,000 of King’s followers gathered around the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to hear him speak on this day.  According to Infoplease.com this gathering was the largest in the nation’s capital. Infoplease.com also stated that Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech was one of the first demonstrations to be widely covered on television.

John F. Kennedy, who was the president at that time, originally opposed the march because he thought the legislature would see it as a threat and vote against the whole movement, but it was decided that the march would go on, Kennedy supported it.

Sources:

http://www.presentationmagazine.com/martin-luther-king-i-have-a-dream-speech.htm. Retreived March 28, 2011.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/18/i-have-a-dream-speech-wat_n_426957.html.Jan. 18, 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2011.

Felde,Kitty (Jan.16,2011).http://www.scpr.org/news/2011/01/16/congresswoman-remembers-hearing-dr-kings-speech-na/.Retrieved March 28, 2011