Freedom: The American Dream

Martin Luther king Jr, and his followers stood for non-violent protests, despite being victims of threats. Although King was highly recognized, and praised amongst the black community not all African American’s agreed with his ideology of obtaining their civil rights through peaceful non-violence protest. Therefore other movements were created such as the Black Power Movement which was a group that emphasized that blacks should claim their civil rights through violence. Overall Martin Luther King Jr had an major impact on the civil rights movement, and will always be remembered for his famous impactful “I have a dream speech” which was his vision of black & white people coinciding with one another, and ultimately living in peace together where blacks do not have to worry about being judged by their skin color, but instead their actions. “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.”

Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the most famous civil rights activists in the history of the United States. He gave several important speeches and promoted non-violent protests. His most famous speech was “I Have A Dream”, around a quarter of a million patrons, black and white, attended this empowering speech at the March on Washington on August 28, 1963. The reason his speech was vastly successful in the movement against segregation and injustice was because of its repetitiveness.

Freedom and the American Dream are both something that Americans stand and strive for in the United States. For many it is a major part of our lives, for some more than others. When the American Dream is asked to be explained or defined a common response is that it is an accomplishment of wealth and prosperity through hard work and success, especially those living in the United States. When searched, the American Dream is described as “the ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity traditionally held to be available to every American” (American Dream, Dictionary.com). This description plays a major role as these are the goals that were set to come from the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Many fought for the right to be free especially when it came to racial inequality in our country but many did not receive these benefits or opportunities of equality as there were negative and positive effects that came directly from the Civil Rights Movement.

America: “The land of the free, and the home of the brave” (Key 7-8). When our forefathers overcame the colonial reign of the British Empire, they formed the United States of America based on the premise of enlightened ideals promoting life, ownership of land, and liberty. But after the revolution, the country’s problems were far from solved. The country’s post-revolution issues sparked a Civil War, which was followed by a reconstruction. In some ways, the Civil War and Reconstruction helped the United States accomplish its original goals, but in many ways, that was not the case.

American beliefs and opinions give a great understanding of what an American values. The want and need for freedom is described in many different ways based on origin or social beliefs. The main backbone of America today is freedom. Through the building of an American empire everyone can’t come to an understanding of what it is to be equally free. By comparing and contrasting the perspectives of Patrick Henry’s speech to the “Virginia Convention,” to take up arms and fight for our freedom. Frederick Douglass’ “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July,” who feels it’s time to end slavery. It is clear that the struggles of the American story are still prevalent and America has not yet found a way for freedom for all.

A long time ago before he had a "dream", Martin Luther King Jr., taught many minorities how to be brave and soldier on through the words of God. He made him self aware of religion and politics in order to ensure he could lead the people to triumph through peace showing he was educated, knowing what needed to be done in order to help fix segregation. His article "Letter from Birmingham Jail," proved that though he was such a strong figure in American society many had no idea he was way more to American history and segregation other than his I had a dream speech. He was revered in American Society because he saw the need to be the change that society at the time needed. Through his vast knowledge of religion, politics and the people

Martin Luther King Jr. is revered as a symbol of peace and understanding. He is humble as he is true to himself. We recognized him as someone who can overcome any obstacles that stand in his way. A leader who is fully capable of evaluating justice and inequality. These are only some of the characteristics that describe Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. dedicated his work to enhancing the quality of life for his fellow people and open the rest of america’s eyes of the promise of African-Americans. This man has shed blood in the name of peace and equality. It all began with the amount of civil unrest MLK encountered in Atlanta, Georgia, where segregation and Jim Crow Laws were a daily reality for African-Americans. He found inspiration for social change at his local

Martin Luther King Jr is a well-known leader for his non-violent approach against segregation, discrimination, and for racial equality for African Americans during the fifties and nineteen sixties when leading the civil rights movement. King is also known for his two powerful works of writings that include his most famous nineteen-sixty three speech, “I Have A Dream”, and his letter that he written from a Birmingham Jail. He is also, out of all of the most powerful leaders in history, the only leader that isn’t a president of a country that has his own national holiday that celebrates is legacy across the United States of America. Originally born Michael King Jr. on January 15, 1929 the second child out of an older sister and younger brother to Alberta Williams King and Michael

Martin Luther King Jr. was a civil rights activist and first hand witness of mistreatment of African Americans from the mid-1950s until April 4, 1968 when he was assassinated. He was a black man who grew up during a time of segregation and injustice. King Jr. came from a loving and structured home in which his father was an influential role model and a had a big impact on his future professions. Religion was also a large part of his life and was one of the biggest influences for his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. In this contextual analysis I will be summarizing the historical context of King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream Speech” and how it impacted his social standing and life's work. I will be exploring how Martin Luther King Jr.’s upbringing set the stage for his civil rights activism involvement and allowed him to become one of the most famous African Americans in the twentieth century.

Examining America as a country it is evident that it was founded on a devoted love, a love for freedom and the rights that are bestowed upon every American at the time of their birth. The men who founded this country believed that they along with future generations deserved a sanctuary. America’s forefathers created an entirely new concept, changing the world by fabricating a haven for freedoms. The love for this country is ever-present in the writings and actions of all the great men who risked their lives to cultivate their dreams.

In a dark world, a time full of hate, hurt, and segregation, a man stood out against those injustices, Martin Luther King Jr.. Martin Luther King Jr. was a very strong activist in the civil rights movement. King was a pioneer of the “no violence” and “no harm” era of protesting. He became a leader for African Americans and whites who opposed the idea of segregation. These people wanted change, they stood together as brothers and as Americans, all led by the great qualities of Martin Luther King Jr.. On the road to civil rights, King had many quotes that had given people hope, trust, and faith and many are still used today.

Martin Luther King, Jr had been a strong leader in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s and fought hard to bring an end to the Negro’s struggle to fight oppression and gain equality. When he was arrested and jailed in Birmingham, Alabama he then fell under criticism by white clergy for coming to Birmingham as an “outsider” to cause trouble and increase tension through public sit-ins and marches. I feel that Martin Luther King was able to both set aside that criticism by establishing his credibility to have not only been invited to come to Birmingham to help end the injustice to the Negro people via peaceful means, but he was able to identify moral, legal and ethical cause to promote his quest to put a stop to what he identified as “the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States.” I will provide a summary that will show what Martin Luther King believed were the cause of the injustice that he was striving to end to as well as his concern over the white community’s ability to make the Negro “wait for more than three hundred and forty years for our constitutional and God-given rights.”

Following quite a while of isolation and disparity, one man stood up and battled for what was correct. This man talked about dreams and for what he felt as ethically right, morally right, legally right and sincerely right. This man talked about flexibility, fraternity and equity among all individuals, regardless of what race they were. He delivered actualities and feelings to America that were being felt by the dark group, which was being dealt with so severely. This man was Martin Luther King Jr., a minister and social liberties pioneer, who later was granted the Nobel Peace Prize for his work. Ruler opened the eyes of America to a more extensive feeling of comprehension, to a more extensive perspective of the disparity and detest that practically

Back in Martin Luther King Jr.’s day, racism, segregation, and violence toward blacks was prevalent within America. In order to take a stand, he engaged in peaceful protests and presented a speech that would move not only America, but the entire world. These actions eventually led up to putting an end to segregation in schools, workplaces, as well as public areas. This also lead ultimately to the road being paved for the United States of America becoming a country that accepts people no matter their race, religion, or gender, giving equal rights to everyone.

During the late 1950’s and early 1960’s a black man by the name Martin Luther King Jr. help with the gradual advancement of Colored People to remove them from the second class of society, and to be treated as equals among their white peers. On August 28th 1963, a speech titled “I Have a Dream” written by Martin Luther King Jr was preached at the Lincoln Memorial, in commemoration of the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln had passed a hundred years earlier freeing the black slaves. During this speech King effectively got his point across to thousands of Americans, and lit a spark of hope to all African Americans, all with his moving words and rhetorical devices used in his speech.