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I Have a Dream

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Trying to Achieve a Dream

ENGL 1323- Section 030

By: Albert Rowe

August 28, 1963 is a date that will live in mortality among American citizens, it was the day that one man moved an entire country, and this man single-handedly brought an entire race together using only his words. Dr. Martin Luther’s “I have a Dream Speech” is one of the most important and influential speeches ever given. This speech was given in Washington D.C. amongst high racial tensions in the U.S. between white southerners and black southerners. This speech perfectly personified the feelings and ideas of 90% of the black community. Dr. King spoke for the minorities that had no voice during this time period. Dr. King’s speech is well known for his hope for the future of his country and his people. Dr. King started with, “….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.” Stating that in his interpretation of the American dream, he begins with “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 one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.” Dr. King dreams of an America that will unite instead of separate, an America that will look around and not see skin color or social status, but instead a fellow man that deserves the upmost respect. King wants America to advance instead of being stuck in an era when slavery and injustice was rampant. Dr. King wants both sides to look at each other and realize that they are all children of God. As Dr. King is saying this in his deep, booming southern preacher voice the picture of a negotiating table where men of all race, creed and color are sitting down, while God is standing over the table acting somewhat of a mediator while man finally unifies and puts aside all differences. This particular part of the speech starts to get the listener riled up, while his or her excitement steadily increasing along with their heartbeat, they begin to stand and is literally being moved by this speech.
The excitement then begins to stack up as Dr. King then follows up with “I have a dream that one day down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, that one day right down in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.”. This is Dr. King’s somewhat “jab” at the people of particularly anti-civil rights in the south, most notably Mississippi and Alabama. Just months before the speech, fire hoses and police dogs were used on peaceful black protestors in Birmingham Alabama. Dr. King is stating that political leaders in this state are stopping and canceling any change that allows black equality. A Dr. King brings up Alabama’s harsh treatment of blacks, the listener then begins to feel enraged. That Rage soon transforms into Determination. Determined that nobody can stop this social change no matter how much power the state has. As long as Dr. King and his followers are united as one, it will be impossible to stop the oncoming change. Imagine Alabama political leaders sitting at their desks and looking out the window and seeing a storm cloud, a cloud of change that will eventually engulf their states with change. Destroying all discriminatory propaganda will bring an entire generation of children that will be color blind, only seeing a kid as another kid.
Already standing at full attention, fully intertwined with Dr. King’s words as well as his earth shaking voice, he then says “...I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. This is our hope. This is the faith that I will go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.” Dr. King dreams of the figurative Racial Mountains that separate two different races in the same state, the racist and rough Deep South will be only plain, and the crooked police forces that brutally mistreat blacks will be straightened out. Dr. King believes that with this equality all of the rough will be smoothed out and by achieving this equality the Lord will show himself to the world. Along with Faith and equality all wounds will soon heal in the U.S. and eventually the poor mistreatment of minorities that was once an unbearable sound will soon turn into an historic masterpiece that will soothe the mind and body.

After sitting through a 20 minute speech the listener’s emotions were all over the place. At the beginning of the speech everybody could tell this would be something special. As Dr. King’s words were spoken, it seemed like every syllable hit every listener’s body and soul. It was jab after jab with words that would eventually shake an entire nation. It was the high point of the civil rights movement. This speech changed every person listening for the better. As Dr. King spoke, his voice and choice of words made it seem like he was heaven sent, somewhat of an angel sent down to help America change for the better. It showed many believers that maybe the U.S. was not forsaken by god, he instead saw a flaw in his creations and sent down this man to guide us to the light. This man taught that for the sake of future generations change was needed. God created men in his image, hoping that these men will live unified. It’s as if all of the words Dr. King spoke that day were words straight from someone watching over us. August 28, 1963 is a date that will live in mortality among American citizens, it was the day that one man moved an entire country, and this man single-handedly brought an entire race together using only his words.

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