Williams 1

Aimelia Williams
Professor Jones
ENG 1201.B51 Online
23 March 2014

Summary of The Fiftieth Anniversary of the March on Washington Speech by Barack Obama
President Obamas speech acknowledged the progress the United States has made
because of the March on Washington, continued persistence, and sacrifice, but also stated that
the nation must work hard to secure the gains made and to progress even more.
President Obama pointed to one particular goal of the march, the presence of economic
opportunity, as the place where the U.S. has fallen particularly short. He went on to describe
creating an economic system where every willing individual has an equal and fair chance to gain
employment as the nations unfinished business.
President Obama concludes the speech by stating that Americans now have a choice to
either continue down the current path of economic destruction for the majority of the population
or bring about change by realizing past mistakes are not binding, working together, and
empathizing with one another. The president finishes by saying, in the face of impossible
odds, people who love their country can change it.

Williams 2



Aimelia Williams
Professor Jones
ENG 1201.B51 Online
23 March 2014
Works Cited
Obama, Barack. "The Fiftieth Anniversary of the March on Washington." Lincoln Memorial. 28
August 2013. Speech.