I Have a Dream as a charter of freedom and equality for the black people of America
Question: Consider Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” as a charter of freedom and equality for the black people of America.
Or, how does the speech “I Have a Dream” epitomize the urgency of racial justice and equality.
Introduction
“I Have a Dream” is a famous speech delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968). He delivered it on August 28, 1963, from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for jobs and freedom that is why this is considered to be the charter of freedom and equality for the black people of America.
Calling for racial equality and discrimination
In this speech, King called for racial equality and an end to discrimination against black people in America. Actually, it was a defining moment of the American Civil Rights Movement. The speech was delivered to over two lacs civil rights supporters. Because of this gathering, the speech is often considered to be one of the greatest and most notable speeches in human history.
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Reference of American independence
At the very outset of the speech, King mentions that the American “Declaration of Independence” promised freedom and equality for all citizens. But even after almost two centuries of that declaration, the black people are still leading a life of racial segregation and discrimination. So, King has wanted to assert that equal rights for Negroes are birthrights.
Remembrance of civil war
King directly indicates that America even fought a civil war from 1861 to 1865 on the issue of abolishing the slavery system from the states of America. He mentions that Lincoln urged the Americans in his famous “Gettysburg Address” to welcome a new birth of freedom”. He dreamt of an ideal America where freedom and equality would be guaranteed for all citizens, but still, Luther does not find any significant change in the social structure of his country. This situation leads Luther to make a call for freedom and equality for the black people in his famous speech “I Have a Dream”.
The great light of hope
Luther, however, is a man of strong faith because he has a dream that one day his country will be an abode where the blacks and the whites will enjoy equal rights as the citizens of America. He goes on to say that he dreams of a time when the blacks and the whites will sit together at the table of brotherhood and will walk through the same roads of life. He hopes that a time will come when the negroes will be judged by their merit but not by the color of their skin. He also envisions that America will be a sweet land of liberty for all citizens and it will be a great nation on earth.
The manner of the civil rights movement
Alongside the demand for freedom, the king also outlines the behavior of the black people in action. He asserts that black people should not be violent and aggressive. They must make their demand in a non-violent way.
Conclusion
To sum up, King’s speech, “I Have a Dream” is a powerful call for freedom and equality for the black people of America since the motto of this speech is equality and freedom.
