I Have a Dream

Natalie Watson

Mrs. Cheryl Epperson

English 111: Writing and Inquiry

19 October 2014

King, Martin Luther, Jr. “ I Have a Dream.” 1963. Back to the Lake .Ed. Thomas Cooley. 2nd ed. New York: Norton, 2012. 556-557.Print.

        On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr.  delivered a monumental speech that would change this great nation indefinitely . Doctor King dedicated his entire life to the accomplishments of the Civil Rights Movement. He established credibility with the patrons that supported the cause. Martin Luther King brought light to the misinterpretation of the promise; that all men, black or white are created as equals and were promise the inalienable rights  of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

        In 1948 Doctor King attended Morehouse College where he earned his Bachelors degree in Sociology. He then went on to receive a PhD in Systematic Theology from Boston University. The Southern Christians Leadership Conference elected King as president of the organization in 1957. This organization helped combine his Christian beliefs with a promise to nonviolent protest. President John F. Kennedy was so inspired by King that he initiated the legislation that later became known as the Civil Rights Act of 1964. On 28 August 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to address the supporters that had taken notice on his call for the March on Washington for jobs and freedom. On 04 April 1968 Doctor King was assassinated on his hotel balcony in Memphis, Tennessee.  

        Martin Luther King Jr. established credibility with the patrons that supported the cause. He refers to Abraham Lincoln’s emancipation proclamation as the beginning of hope for all the oppressed negro people. Doctor King says ,”now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God’s children,” meaning give all of the people the same rights and opportunities. He wants all of the people to stop being racial and come together as a brotherhood.        

        King says to the people, “we are here to cash a check,” they were there to get the promise that all men were guaranteed the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness fulfilled. The people were made this promise, yet there was never any action toward the promise. He also reminds them that the time to take care of the problem was right then, not later, not to cool off, right then in that moment; he did not want to wait any longer. Doctor King indicates if the nation returns to business as usual and ignored the people that there will be a rude awakening. 1. 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.” MLA CITATION: King, Martin Luther, Jr. “ I Have a Dream.” 1963. Back to the Lake. Ed. Thomas Cooley. 2nd ed. New York: Norton, 2012. 556-557.Print.