I HAVE A DREAM
by Martin Luther King

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

Talking about abraham lincoln, probably

the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity

theyre surrounded by prosperity and opportunities and yet they cant reach out to it because of prejudice , its sad

Martin Luther King proclaimed this speech to be the greatest demonstration of freedom in their history. Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which served as a beacon of light for the blacks, but even after years and years, not much has changed. They are still bound by racism and discrimination. They want to change that. According to the Declaration of Independence, all men should have equal rights, but that doesn't seem to followed when it comes to black people. Even though they're being mistreated and discriminated against, they still have hope that justice will be served. They will not rest until they have the life that is rightly theirs, without resorting to violence or distrust of all white people. Even with how badly they were treated—having been struck by police brutality and false accusations just because of their skin—they will not let their bitterness and anger sweltering and boil. They will not stop marching forward until they realise their dreams and finally attain freedom.

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt.

Its nice to see that they still have belief in the system

Why is there still prejudice against the Negro even though there was an emancipation proclamation, Do they just not respect the presidents decree?

What exactly is the emancipation proclamation?

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.

Its beautiful and inspiring, that martin luther king still has this dream, and that he believes in this dream, after everything that’s happened to his people in the past.

I. there is still inequality

A. The Situation

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.

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

It's admirable how he didn't cultivate a hatred for the whites despite all the mistreatment. He genuinely wants just equality among all people.

2.the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity

3.the Negro still is not free.

  • 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.*
  1. the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land.
  1. the negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one.

No matter what, he stays civil--it's amazing. He doesn't intend to stoop as low as the whites did. He want to achieve freedom with clean hands.

  1. the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality.
  1. our (negro) bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities

II. There is Hope

A. Goals/Dreams of Martin Luther King

  1. our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating: "For Whites Only."
  1. a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote
  1. a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote.

B. the Response of the Oppressed

  1. that the people of his land to follow and understand the true meaning of its creed: "all men are created equal."
  1. Gather together to dramatize a shameful condition, in a way to protest injustice without violence
  1. that one day the people of his nation can sit together peacefully at the table of brotherhood, regardless of color.

3.that his children can one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but the content of their character.

  1. that one day the racists will change their minds and hold hands with their black brethren
  1. that one day freedom will ring from all places--from every hilltop to every mountain side.

B. Ideals & Beliefs

  1. to move forward without commiting wrongful deeds
  1. to not incubate hatred and bitterness
  1. to move with dignity and discipline-- not allowing their creative protests to turn into physical violence.
  1. to not distrust all white people
  1. to cooperate with their white brethren for their freedom is bound together

what exact part of the declaration of independence was he referencing in the fourth paragraph of his speech?

  1. to always move forward and never turn back
  1. to not wallow in despair and to face the difficulties with integrity