On the steps of Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered one of the most important speeches in the 20th Century. His speech “I Have a Dream” talks about ending racism in the United States of America while calling for civic and economic rights for its citizens. His speech was delivered in front of more than 250,000 civil rights supporters. King made a historical event delivering the speech that inspired thousands of people to march for their rights.
His speech has made a significant impact on the history of the United States. “I Have a Dream” brought greater attention to the Civil Rights Movement. The primary goal of King's speech was to remind American citizens that the plan to gain genuine freedom for African Americans has not yet been accomplished. He began his speech by using lines referring to Lincoln's Gettysburg Address to connect his speech to Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. He heavily implied that despite a century after the passing of the Emancipation Proclamation, its promise to free African Americans from slavery was, in most respects, still a promise and not a reality.
Since King is also a preacher, his speech reaffirmed the morality of civil rights movements as it is heavily derived from the Christian tradition of social justice. He was strongly familiar in this field, and he used it to appeal to the emotions of his listeners. His commitment to a non-violent resistance for fighting for equal rights, which he said is a God-given right, served as the basis of human dignity and strength for all American citizens regardless of race or religion. In his speech, he mentioned that all are created equal before the law and all are entitled to equal opportunities. Not only that, his speech reaffirmed the call to all Americans to live up to the ideals and standards of social justice and equality indicated in the documents of their leaders, in which the Constitution already guaranteed the rights of African Americans against government intrusion. This act would protect the minority against the oppression of the majority.
King's speech was full of love and compassion for everyone, even for those who opposed his dream of having equality for his brothers and sisters. This made many sympathetic to his cause since they see it appropriate that King would preach love rather than hate over injustice, which would only incite the criticisms of the opposition. King renewed the hope of African Americans when he said that the struggle had to go on since it would bear fruit in being successful by overcoming racism and bigotry. His speech also showed strength in numbers, and their united front proved to be a powerful tool against the opposition and unjust ideologies.
King was then able to spread his non-violence message to a nationwide, and to an extent, a worldwide audience. His speech was relayed through televisions and radios and was reprinted in newspapers and magazines. Since people became more aware of his message, the Congress quickly put into motion the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which was finally approved on the following year. It gave African Americans a more equal and a better treatment than they ever had before.
The reason why King’s “I Have a Dream” is considered as one of the best speeches in history relies on his ability in public speaking where he has the advantage of having justice on his side. He knew how to make use of imagery. The speech is full of words that painted the rough landscape of the past and the ideal scenarios of the future. He appealed to every American, whether he is black or white, a man or a woman, and regardless of his religion. He did not lecture the United States as if he was superior to it. No, he educated it as his equal. Instead of fighting hatred with hate, he fought with love, compassion, and reason. He questioned each American whether they can keep their honor in maintaining equality just as his predecessors have promised.
King did not ask the country to change into something that it was not. He asked the country to become the country it has always meant to be, which is a country built on equality and freedom, and where its citizens can lawfully uphold the ideals of its leaders on freedom, equality, and justice. It was the freedom that the United States values the most, and it was what King devoted his speech into. That is what made his speech a memorable part of history because freedom and equality are such simple concepts that we can comprehend.
