ethics and literature

IHave a Dream Speech, Martin Luther King Jr.

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.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the

Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to

millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a

joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the

Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One

hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of

material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of

American society and finds himself in exile in his own land. So we have come here today to

dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. When the architects of our

republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence,

they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a

promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable

rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of

color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro

people a bad check, a check which has come back marked “insufficient funds.” But we refuse to

believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds

in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check — a check

that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also

come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to

engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the

time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate

valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from

the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make

justice a reality for all of God’s children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer

of the Negro’s legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of

freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that

the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the

nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the

Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the

foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which

leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty

of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of

bitterness and hatred.

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not

allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to

the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy

which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for

many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that

their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is

inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always 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 the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police

brutality. 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 our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their

dignity by signs stating “For Whites Only”. We cannot 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.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of

you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest

for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police

brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that

unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go

back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that

somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, 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 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.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of

injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom

and justice.

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.

I have a dream today.

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; one day right there 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.

I have a dream today.

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 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. With

this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail

together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with a new meaning, “My

country, ‘tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the

pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.”

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the

prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New

York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let

freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village

and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all

of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will

be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! free at last!

thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

Runninghead: OPTION THREE 1

Option Three

By

[JENIS PRAJAPATI]

April 25, 2021

OPTION THREE 2

The fight against racial discrimination and prejudice in America is as past the country

itself. Clashes between superior and inferior regions of society because of skin color affect

society’s social, economic, political, and legal position. At that time there were systematic racial

discrimination exists in every institution racism has been entrenched within it. Despite the

Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights’ imposition, “all men are created equal,”

American society still failed to impose equal standards for everyone. Similarly, at that time, the

concept of democracy has been violated. Democracy means that every individual can equally

participate in decision-making, but there was nothing such rights available to African Americans

and racially depressed people. There were numerous reasons behind racial injustice and

discrimination, such as a flawed justice system, unequal resource distribution, cruel government,

inequality in social institutions, and unequal policing practices.

Numerous fighters against racial discrimination and slavery emerged, such as Langston

Hughes and Martin Luther King were two prominent figures who raised their voices against

racism and racial inequality. Writings and movements against racial prejudice played an essential

role in highlighting the issue. Hughes played his part in raising African Americans against the

inequality they are facing. Through his poetry, plays, novels, and essays, he promotes equality

and convinces African Americans to stand for their rights. Apart from this, Luther King’s role in

motivating people through his words and speeches like “I have a Dream.”

Racism as the hierarchy of white and black people along human lines creates numerous

complications in society. For decades American society still lacks equality and justice.

Westernized elites from the first world have recreated racial injustice and ethical violation at a

significant level. All the efforts made to eliminate racial injustice and slavery from American

society years ago fail to influence American society for a long time. Because today, the

OPTION THREE 3

difference between African Americans and White Americans in social, economic, political, and

legal institutions still exists and exploits African Americans’ lives at a considerable level.

King and Hughes’s work aimed to eliminate systematic racial inequality from society and

allow racially minor people to speak for their rights. King’s speech regarding American society

shatters his vision to see Americas as equal and just for everyone. Both Hughes and King were

Negros, which is why they understand the pain of Negros and racially depressed people. Their

work reflects the pain of African Americans and their vision for a just and equal America where

no one will face discrimination and injustice. For example, Hughes’s poem “Negro” is an appeal

to understand their position in society. The poem’s purpose is to highlight that the difference

between white and black Americans is vital that never let black Americans exercise their interests

(HUGHES, 2018).

The word Negro is associated with oppression, and they are considered as people to be a

slave. Throughout the poem, Hughes reveals his identity as being slave, poor, oppressed, and

negatively exploited in every situation. Along with his identity in the poetry, Hughes is

explaining the history of African Americans. He also highlights the type of discrimination they

face in society. Such as he talks about, employment is a form of discrimination they face. African

Americans fail to establish their identities on social, political, and legal grounds because of their

race. This is the form of racial inequality that still exists in the 21st century. In the 21st century,

legal institutions are corrupt that fail to maintain a just social system. Employment

discrimination is in practice regarding compensation, prestigious positions at work, management

responsibilities, and retaliation (Mz Sincoff, 2006). Despite the developments and advancement

in every field, racial injustice still exists that is questioning the future of American society.

OPTION THREE 4

In his speech “I Have a Dream,” King’s words, “But one hundred years later, the Negro

still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the

manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro

lives on a lonely island of poverty amid a vast ocean of material prosperity,” that are relevant

even today. When he addressed this speech and today, the status of Negro is still the same. Like

the day when the speech was addressed Negro’s are segregated and suffering even today. The

existence of systematic inequality is widening the gap between white and black Americans. For

example, research highlights that the median wealth for black and Hispanic families was

allocated as $17,600 and $20,700, while during the same year, the wealth given for white

Americans was $171 000. The reason for the massive gap between the allocation of funds and

income to families is their race and the prevailing systematic injustice. Research from 2016 also

indicates that African Americans indicate 1/10th of the total wealth than white Americans (Hanks,

Solomon, & Weller, 2018). Black Americans are less likely to own their houses than whites

because of having less wealth and affordability power. These statistics show that Martin Luther

King’s words were accurate, and our society is still there without making any further progress for

racial inequality.

In his speech, he further argues that “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, (King, 2018)” but sadly his dream didn’t come true yet.

Instead of widening the wall between them over time, beliefs and perceptions about racial

inequality become strong, and people, instead of coming on the table of brotherhood, scattering

away by accepting race as a measurement scale. African Americans are still deprived of their

rights to liberty, freedom, justice, and equality. An example from the current society indicates

OPTION THREE 5

that we have not achieved the desired America of King. The existing legal system of our country

is not addressing punishments and legal decisions based on fair laws and principles, but one’s

racial and ethnic identity shapes decisions. For example, the country’s criminal justice system

takes punishment cruelly for African Americans while using a leniency when it comes to

punishment decisions for white Americans. Researchers say that in 2014, 72% of prisoners were

black Americans while 16% were white, which shows a massive gap between the practice of the

criminal justice system. Statistics show that African Americans are not free and liberal in the

state. They are legally bound based on wrong standards (Bertrand, Mullainathan, & Abrams,

2001).

Whether it is about healthcare benefits or social security benefits, policies implemented

over the state clearly define a gap of opportunities for African Americans or racially depressed

people. The purpose of Hughes, King, and numerous other influencers in history was to raise a

voice against racial discrimination to eliminate it from society and establish a just and equal

system. But despite their innumerable efforts and concerns regarding American culture, we are

still there. The race is a more vital element in the United States that exploits millions of lives

every day. It is ironic that even after decades of struggles and sacrifices, African Americans fail

to achieve an equal social, economic, political, and legal system. The writings of Hughes and the

speech of Kings reveal their higher expectations from American society that it will grow one day

out of all inequalities and discrimination as an equal territory protecting everyone regardless of

race. But unfortunately, their perceptions and expectations didn’t come true. Everything same,

and Negro’s are being exploited at a similar level. Struggles of centuries to eliminate inequality

and the injustice-based race go waste because superior white people still believe that African

Americans deserve to be a slave. Employment, education, healthcare, social welfare, government

OPTION THREE 6

sections, legal institutions, and everywhere race dominate the system. Thus, we have not moved

so far in racial equality in American society.

OPTION THREE 7

References

Bertrand, M., Mullainathan, S., & Abrams, D. (2001). Discrimination in the Judicial System.

Randomized Evaluation, https://www.poverty-action.org/study/discrimination-judicial-

system.

Hanks, A., Solomon, D., & Weller, C. E. (2018). Systematic Inequality. Centre for American

Progress,

https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/race/reports/2018/02/21/447051/systematic-

inequality/.

HUGHES, L. (2018). The Negro Speaks of Rivers.

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44428/the-negro-speaks-of-rivers.

King, M. L. (2018, January 10). ‘I Have A Dream’ Speech, In Its Entirety. Retrieved from

https://www.npr.org/2010/01/18/122701268/i-have-a-dream-speech-in-its-entirety

Mz Sincoff, M. Z. (2006). Retaliation: The Form of the 21st Century Employment

Discrimination. 1-8.

The main issue with the essay is that it lacks a thesis statement (the sentence at the end of

the intro that states the main argument of the essay). The thesis needs to specifically state how

things today compare to either the dreams MLK speaks about or the Hughes poems we looked at

(make sure to only write about the Hughes poems that were assigned for this course).

Eliminate any background info about the history and the authors’ bios in the body of the

essay (as stated in the assignment instructions). You may include a bit of this in the intro, but it is

unnecessary in the body of the essay.

OPTION THREE 8

In order to make the main argument of each body paragraph clear, it’s a good idea to use

topic sentences. Since you should be comparing either the speech or the poems to what’s going

on today, the best way to do this is to use each body paragraph to focus on one specific part of

the literature, and then compare that to today. If you’re focusing on MLK’s speech, you could

use each body paragraph to discuss one dream or aspect of the speech, and then discuss how we

are doing today.

The paper needs some editing to fix grammatical issues. I’m not allowed to edit student

papers for grammar, but you can make an appointment with the writing center to have someone

go through the essay with you.

Additional comments are above.

References

Running head: Option three 1

Option three 8

Option Three Comment by GRETCHEN JOHNSON: In MLA format, you don’t use a cover page. To see details about MLA format, you might want to visit Purdue Owl’s website (owl.purdue.edu). Comment by GRETCHEN JOHNSON: Come up with a title for the essay.

By

[JENIS PRAJAPATI]

April 25, 2021

The fight against racial discrimination and prejudice in America is as past the country itself. Clashes between superior and inferior regions of society because of skin color affect society’s social, economic, political, and legal position. At that time there were systematic racial discrimination exists in every institution racism has been entrenched within it. Despite the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights’ imposition, “all men are created equal,” American society still failed to impose equal standards for everyone. Similarly, at that time, the concept of democracy has been violated. Democracy means that every individual can equally participate in decision-making, but there was nothing such rights available to African Americans and racially depressed people. There were numerous reasons behind racial injustice and discrimination, such as a flawed justice system, unequal resource distribution, cruel government, inequality in social institutions, and unequal policing practices. Comment by GRETCHEN JOHNSON: The intro needs a thesis statement that relates to the assignment prompt. Since you are supposed to compare the state of racial equity today with MLK’s speech, you should keep the intro focused on his speech, and include a thesis statement that states the main argument of the essay (relating to the assignment). Comment by GRETCHEN JOHNSON: reword in order to clarify Comment by GRETCHEN JOHNSON: confusing wording Comment by GRETCHEN JOHNSON: wrong word choice

Numerous fighters against racial discrimination and slavery emerged, such as Langston Hughes and Martin Luther King were two prominent figures who raised their voices against racism and racial inequality. Writings and movements against racial prejudice played an essential role in highlighting the issue. Hughes played his part in raising African Americans against the inequality they are facing. Through his poetry, plays, novels, and essays, he promotes equality and convinces African Americans to stand for their rights. Apart from this, Luther King’s role in motivating people through his words and speeches like “I have a Dream.” Comment by GRETCHEN JOHNSON: This is just background information and doesn’t argue anything. Cut out all the background info, and keep the body of the essay focused on the assignment prompt question.

Racism as the hierarchy of white and black people along human lines creates numerous complications in society. For decades American society still lacks equality and justice. Westernized elites from the first world have recreated racial injustice and ethical violation at a significant level. All the efforts made to eliminate racial injustice and slavery from American society years ago fail to influence American society for a long time. Because today, the difference between African Americans and White Americans in social, economic, political, and legal institutions still exists and exploits African Americans’ lives at a considerable level. Comment by GRETCHEN JOHNSON: Cut this since it is background info. Keep the essay focused on what is going on today, and compare it directly to the speech.

King and Hughes’s work aimed to eliminate systematic racial inequality from society and allow racially minor people to speak for their rights. King’s speech regarding American society shatters his vision to see Americas as equal and just for everyone. Both Hughes and King were Negros, which is why they understand the pain of Negros and racially depressed people. Their work reflects the pain of African Americans and their vision for a just and equal America where no one will face discrimination and injustice. For example, Hughes’s poem “Negro” is an appeal to understand their position in society. The poem’s purpose is to highlight that the difference between white and black Americans is vital that never let black Americans exercise their interests (HUGHES, 2018). Comment by GRETCHEN JOHNSON: Only write about poems we looked at in this course.

The word Negro is associated with oppression, and they are considered as people to be a slave. Throughout the poem, Hughes reveals his identity as being slave, poor, oppressed, and negatively exploited in every situation. Along with his identity in the poetry, Hughes is explaining the history of African Americans. He also highlights the type of discrimination they face in society. Such as he talks about, employment is a form of discrimination they face. African Americans fail to establish their identities on social, political, and legal grounds because of their race. This is the form of racial inequality that still exists in the 21st century. In the 21st century, legal institutions are corrupt that fail to maintain a just social system. Employment discrimination is in practice regarding compensation, prestigious positions at work, management responsibilities, and retaliation (Mz Sincoff, 2006). Despite the developments and advancement in every field, racial injustice still exists that is questioning the future of American society.

In his speech “I Have a Dream,” King’s words, “But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty amid a vast ocean of material prosperity,” that are relevant even today. When he addressed this speech and today, the status of Negro is still the same. Like the day when the speech was addressed Negro’s are segregated and suffering even today. The existence of systematic inequality is widening the gap between white and black Americans. For example, research highlights that the median wealth for black and Hispanic families was allocated as $17,600 and $20,700, while during the same year, the wealth given for white Americans was $171 000. The reason for the massive gap between the allocation of funds and income to families is their race and the prevailing systematic injustice. Research from 2016 also indicates that African Americans indicate 1/10th of the total wealth than white Americans (Hanks, Solomon, & Weller, 2018). Black Americans are less likely to own their houses than whites because of having less wealth and affordability power. These statistics show that Martin Luther King’s words were accurate, and our society is still there without making any further progress for racial inequality. Comment by GRETCHEN JOHNSON: This paragraph is the first time in the paper that you are on-topic with the assignment prompt. Everything in the body of your essay needs to focus on comparing what is said in the speech (or the Hughes poems we looked at in class) to what is going on today.

In his speech, he further argues that “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, (King, 2018)” but sadly his dream didn’t come true yet. Instead of widening the wall between them over time, beliefs and perceptions about racial inequality become strong, and people, instead of coming on the table of brotherhood, scattering away by accepting race as a measurement scale. African Americans are still deprived of their rights to liberty, freedom, justice, and equality. An example from the current society indicates that we have not achieved the desired America of King. The existing legal system of our country is not addressing punishments and legal decisions based on fair laws and principles, but one’s racial and ethnic identity shapes decisions. For example, the country’s criminal justice system takes punishment cruelly for African Americans while using a leniency when it comes to punishment decisions for white Americans. Researchers say that in 2014, 72% of prisoners were black Americans while 16% were white, which shows a massive gap between the practice of the criminal justice system. Statistics show that African Americans are not free and liberal in the state. They are legally bound based on wrong standards (Bertrand, Mullainathan, & Abrams, 2001).

Whether it is about healthcare benefits or social security benefits, policies implemented over the state clearly define a gap of opportunities for African Americans or racially depressed people. The purpose of Hughes, King, and numerous other influencers in history was to raise a voice against racial discrimination to eliminate it from society and establish a just and equal system. But despite their innumerable efforts and concerns regarding American culture, we are still there. The race is a more vital element in the United States that exploits millions of lives every day. It is ironic that even after decades of struggles and sacrifices, African Americans fail to achieve an equal social, economic, political, and legal system. The writings of Hughes and the speech of Kings reveal their higher expectations from American society that it will grow one day out of all inequalities and discrimination as an equal territory protecting everyone regardless of race. But unfortunately, their perceptions and expectations didn’t come true. Everything same, and Negro’s are being exploited at a similar level. Struggles of centuries to eliminate inequality and the injustice-based race go waste because superior white people still believe that African Americans deserve to be a slave. Employment, education, healthcare, social welfare, government sections, legal institutions, and everywhere race dominate the system. Thus, we have not moved so far in racial equality in American society.

References
Bertrand, M., Mullainathan, S., & Abrams, D. (2001). Discrimination in the Judicial System. Randomized Evaluation, https://www.poverty-action.org/study/discrimination-judicial-system.
Hanks, A., Solomon, D., & Weller, C. E. (2018). Systematic Inequality. Centre for American Progress, https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/race/reports/2018/02/21/447051/systematic-inequality/.
HUGHES, L. (2018). The Negro Speaks of Rivers. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44428/the-negro-speaks-of-rivers.
King, M. L. (2018, January 10). ‘I Have A Dream’ Speech, In Its Entirety. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2010/01/18/122701268/i-have-a-dream-speech-in-its-entirety
Mz Sincoff, M. Z. (2006). Retaliation: The Form of the 21st Century Employment Discrimination. 1-8.

The main issue with the essay is that it lacks a thesis statement (the sentence at the end of the intro that states the main argument of the essay). The thesis needs to specifically state how things today compare to either the dreams MLK speaks about or the Hughes poems we looked at (make sure to only write about the Hughes poems that were assigned for this course).

Eliminate any background info about the history and the authors’ bios in the body of the essay (as stated in the assignment instructions). You may include a bit of this in the intro, but it is unnecessary in the body of the essay.

In order to make the main argument of each body paragraph clear, it’s a good idea to use topic sentences. Since you should be comparing either the speech or the poems to what’s going on today, the best way to do this is to use each body paragraph to focus on one specific part of the literature, and then compare that to today. If you’re focusing on MLK’s speech, you could use each body paragraph to discuss one dream or aspect of the speech, and then discuss how we are doing today.

The paper needs some editing to fix grammatical issues. I’m not allowed to edit student papers for grammar, but you can make an appointment with the writing center to have someone go through the essay with you.

Additional comments are above.

Dream of a Dream

The immortal words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in “I have a dream” forever bound the promise of our forefathers’ words of equality and God-given rights to the very soul of the United States of America. To endure the horrors and indignities of racial injustice, he spoke about peace, love, equality of man, and rights which are non-excludable in a time when America needed it most. Millions were given their voice through this one man who aimed to show the strength of their bonds through peaceful protest. The dream is now a forgotten dream. Decades later we face new racial tensions in a regressing society where violence contradicts the very message of peaceful protest that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke about. Where the peaceful protest of 1963 led to equality and justice, the violent riots of today disregard these wise words and wisdom and offer only fear of violent retribution. In forgetting the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the regression of civil rights and liberties has been embraced at a high cost. In forgetting the dream, we risk ignoring true equality and justice for all.

“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, 1963). One of many dreams Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had, and perhaps the most significant, sought to remind America that the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were meant for all and that this was long overdue. The Constitution, through all of its flaws, still gave the reverend this hope. It was hope that after centuries of injustice, of being beaten, murdered, raped, kidnapped, kept from families, denied education, and denied dignity, that the words the founding fathers wrote were more than just words for free white people. These were no ordinary words to the reverend, but a belief as strong as his belief in God.

To set up the importance of his speech, Dr. King wrote:

“In a sense we have come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which ever American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” (I have a Dream, 1963)

And this is reflected throughout society today in many ways but is still lacking in other ways as seen with the many inconsistencies throughout the justice system in America.

Today we can look back over the last decade and see just how rapidly our society has started to return to the racial strife of decades past. With the popular opinion that the entire system of government is biased against blacks, we have seen a greater sense of civic engagement in the black communities in hopes of rectifying this problem. However, often times the fiery activism is solely targeted against whites, and law enforcement.

From the current issues of today, protests were renewed in a greater sense than they have throughout the previous decade. Many people feel the voice of justice is being ignored and so frustrations have reached an all-time high with the tragic death of George Floyd. Unfortunately, these frustrations have also led to some violent protests in the name of justice, ignoring the warning of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr:

“In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence.” (I have a Dream, 1963)

These creative words seek to remove any backlash that may be received by stating a movement must match what it seeks. If it seeks peace, justice, and equality, then that movement should reflect this very vision.

The question needs to be asked, why have we fallen so far from progression in equal rights? One thing I am sure of is that we do not have the hate groups the media and some prominent political parties claim. This is not meant to be a political statement advocating either for or against any particular political party, but to point reasoning minds toward understanding why we have regressed. To what end do we allow the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to remain absent in our minds and culture? Does racism exist? Yes, of course it does. Terrible people exist all throughout society. They cause suffering for their own twisted reasons, but we should not stoop to their level of hatred by committing atrocities ourselves. To accept the belief that America has never progressed significantly since the civil rights act is a grievous error.

The extremely violent protests that have occurred for an entire year now have done much to harm the voices which aim to further positive changes in society. Because of this, their slogan is seen by many as disingenuous in contrast with the actions of its group and any other alliances. According to a Pew Research Center Survey:

“A majority of U.S. adults (55%) now express at least some support for the movement, down from 67% in June amid nationwide demonstrations sparked by the death of George Floyd. The share who say they strongly support the movement stands at 29%, down from 38% three months ago.” (Thomas and Horowitz, 2020)

This can be seen as supporting the thought that violence hurts the cause of a movement meant to further equality and justice.

In similarly harrowing times in which police brutality is dealt with, and the views that some have in reaction, the reverend King also reflected on these issues:

“I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storm of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.” (King Jr., I have a Dream)

This relation to current events should speak volumes that in all the suffering and anger, his prior words for peaceful protesting still hold strong.

To further highlight the difference, and similarities of 1963 and today, a Gallop Poll was taken in 1963 prior to “I have a Dream”, which would later vindicate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s philosophy of peaceful protesting. “When it came to MLK’s march on Washington, 60 percent had an unfavorable view of the march, stating that they felt it would cause violence and would not accomplish anything,” (The Civil Rights Act of 1964 Revisited). Then, in the following poll after the famous speech, 54% of Americans approved of the Civil Rights Act’s passage (The Civil Rights Act of 1964 Revisited). So, in relation to the peaceful protest of 1963, a positive affect was seen to have been accomplished with love, faith, and dignity during the height of racial tensions. It is no coincidence that this made such a positive impact versus the negative impact we are experiencing today.

Not everything is so simple to understand as people experience problems every day that go unnoticed by others and many injustices are committed. The ethics of the situations people face must be challenged and noticed in order for the minds of today’s youths to turn back from this spiraling cycle of hate we spent decades removing from America.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. invokes religion in his speech because it gives cause to unite under the love of an omnipotent being, whether some are Atheist or of other differing beliefs. He invokes peace because he knows the enemies of freedom seek to use every reason to remove, and keep from, these freedoms from the people that seek them. Though the freedoms we enjoy today were written into our constitution by man, they were given by a higher power— God. We must remember Dr. King’s words, the history of our nation and everything that has been gained and lost in our past. We must continue the dream of unity and peace, consistently striving for it without exclusion of rights at any time for anyone.

The racial tensions of today are revived tensions from long ago, which is not what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed of. I have a dream of a dream that once was and pray that it will be again a unifying force for the country. I believe we cannot let his words be in vain and I firmly believe he would be appalled at what is transpiring today.

KING 2

America may have a stain on its history, but the founding fathers believed it would correct itself. Martin Luther King Jr. also believed it would correct itself and sought to cash the check they wrote to all Americans. All Americans should share in this unifying dream and keep it alive rather than igniting the flames of hatred and division again. It is imperative that we allow the past to teach us to live in peace and love one another instead of inviting a culture of victimhood to become pervasive in our country. It is only in this way that we can work together to reach a true and consistent change in the justice system and society as a whole. We must recall the dream.

Citations

“I Have a Dream” – Martin Luther King Jr., August 28th, 1963. (Accessed April 22, 2021).

“The Civil Rights Act of 1964 Revisited.” UConn Today, University of Connecticut, 15 July 2014,

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 Revisited

. (Accessed April 22, 2021).

Thomas, Deja, and Horowitz, Juliana Menasce. “Support for Black Lives Matter Has Decreased since June but Remains Strong among Black Americans.” Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 22 Oct. 2020,

www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/09/16/support-for-black-lives-matter-has-decreased-since-june-but-remains-strong-among-black-americans/

. (Accessed April 22, 2021).