In August 1963, Martin Luther King shook the whole America with his momentous ‘I Have A Dream’ speech, dramatically delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. We can categorize King’s speech into five main points referring the following quotes:I. "In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check." In other words, the black community is owed liberation. Lincoln's Emancipation Declaration promised freedom for slaves, but "the Negro is still not free" and further liberation and rights are necessary. II. "We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline, we must not allow our creative protest to degenerate in physical violence.... we cannot walk alone." King is careful to stress his non-violent beliefs. While the struggle is just, it should not deteriorate into violence. This is because the black community should not seek to alienate the white community."Their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom," and a common solution should be sought. III. "I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream." King stresses the importance of hope. This is the most famous and moving part of the speech. King recognises that many of his audience have suffered persecution and violence, but that they must have hope and faith that the "promised land" of complete integration will happen "one day". VI. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed The dream is a frame for the future and sets the stage for the rest of the words. 'Dream' is vague aspiration. 'one day' starts to make it specific. A hint of revolution, a threat to white people, that may be scary but is tempered by subsequent words. IV. "If America is to be a great nation this must become true." King stresses that this is not just a problem for the black community, but for all Americans. King uses the words of "My country, 'tis of thee" to stress the national, even patriotic importance of the struggle, repeating the line "Let freedom ring" to link the civil rights struggle with the ideals of the founding fathers.
The key message in the speech is that all people are created equal and, although not the case in America at the time, King felt it must be the case for the future. He argued passionately and powerfully.
The key message in the speech is that all people are created equal and, although not the case in America at the time, King felt it must be the case for the future. He argued passionately and powerfully.
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