"I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have

a dream. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Dr. Kings I Have a Dream speech is one of the most influential speeches of equality ever. He talks of every single one of Gods people being treated with respect. This message is still relevant today because many groups of people are still fighting for equality, and I hope to be a part of a world that one day can come together and live in peace and harmony. This influential speech is extremely important when talking about the beginning of equal rights for all. Dr. King constantly talks about his vision for the future, of not only blacks and whites in America but, as describe in his speech, (For)Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics Just because blacks were freed slaves does not mean they were treated equal to whites. An encounter of 4 black students in Greensboro, NC is a prime example of this. In 1960 4 black students sat down at a white only lunch counter in North Carolina. They were of course denied service but refused to leave, they were not harming anyone and their acts were completely non-violent, but this goes to show how even after African Americans were given freedom, at that time, they werent really free. With the help of their movements sit-ins continued to spread throughout the south and is a representation how Dr. Kings speech influenced the movement of non-violent protests. Dr. Kings speech was the catalytic event that finally changed peoples minds to a more placid way of looking at segregation. Some might disagree saying Dr. Kings speech does not have relevance in todays world as it had when racism was a major problem but I could disagree. His speech meant more than just the fight for blacks freedom in America; He was fighting for equality and justice for all groups around the world. He wants people to look at one another and not judge them based on the color of their skin or the god they believe in but for their character as a human being. The United States is at a war with itself denying gays the right to marry one another. As of January

2014, 31 states still do not allow gays the right to marry. One of the most widely talked about reports of gay hate crimes is Matthew Shepard. He was a student at the University of Wyoming and throughout the trial concluding his death it was widely known that he was gay. He was threatened and beaten to later die on October 7, 1998 from complicated head injuries. His murder sparked new legislation against hate crimes across the United States and is now one of the reasons behind the passing of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Now, Dr. King might not have been able to picture a white man marrying a black man in his time and day but that just goes to show how relevant his speech is. He would never encourage hate crimes no matter if he believed in gay marriage or not. We live in an ever changing world where the values of many individuals might contradict the few, however, that doesnt mean you need to settle for anything other than what you believe is fair and just. To say Dr. Kings speech is only relatable to some is an extreme understatement. I agree with the direction Dr. King was going when he gave his speech. Personally knowing people who were bullied at younger ages and now hearing his speech and finally being able to understand the deeper translation of it makes me want to be more resilient for the future of teens and children alike. A friend of mine was bullied for being different when I was in elementary school. I agree she wasnt the most social person with the most friends but that is never a reason to bully someone. The worst part about it is I still remember the pain in her eyes when she would get teased, however me being only about 10 at the time did not know how to deal with that stress, what was I to do? I knew I didnt want to be bullied in the same way she did but looking back on it I realize someone not doing something to stop it is just as guilty as the person physically bullying someone.

Dr. King is not only the epitome of true character but takes passive aggression to an entirely new level. His I Have a Dream speech teaches us to look past each others differences and rejoice in the beauty of how different we all really are. I will be forever thankful he was in his right mind when writing this speech because I can relate his strength and pride in what he does, to my passion for being a part of a more peaceful community.