Indian Institute of Management, Rohtak

Integrated Program in Managerment

2022-2027

Critical Thinking & Writing Skills II

Assignment 02
Submitted to:
Dr. Said Oussou

Group 12
Priyanshu Kumar - IPM04149
Ashmit Gothwal - IPM04111
Siddharth Tripathi - IPM04167
Krishnakant Singh - IPM04134
Nihira Prakash - IPM04141
Vedansh Kapoor - IPM04175
 Martin L King's speech

“I Have a Dream” Speech by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at

the “March on Washington,” 1963 (excerpts)

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest
demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
Five score years ago a great American in whose symbolic shadow we stand today
signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree is a great beacon
light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of
withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their
captivity. But 100 years later the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later
the life of the Negro is still badly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the
chains of discrimination. One hundred years later the Negro lives on a lonely island
of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years
later the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds
himself in exile in his own land. So we’ve come here today to dramatize a shameful
condition.
In a sense we’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. When the architects
of our Republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the
Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every
American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men—yes, black men as
well as white men—would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness. . . .

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We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline.
We must not allow our creative protests to degenerate into physical violence. . . .
The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not
lead us to distrust all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced
by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with
our destiny.
. . . We cannot walk alone. And as we walk we must make the pledge that we shall
always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the
devotees of civil rights, “When will you be satisfied?” We can never be satisfied as
long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality.

________________________________________________________________________________________

Summary
Concept
A summary is a concise representation of the main ideas and key points within
a given text, capturing the essential information while omitting unnecessary
details

Summary of the speech

The passage is an excerpt from Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a
Dream" speech delivered during the March on Washington for Jobs and
Freedom in 1963. King reflects on the historical context, emphasizing the
unfulfilled promises of freedom and equality for African Americans a century
after the Emancipation Proclamation. He highlights the ongoing struggles of
racial injustice, segregation, and discrimination. King expresses the need to
address the disparities and calls for unity and nonviolent protest to achieve
civil rights. The speech underscores the commitment to realizing the
unalienable rights promised by the Constitution and emphasizes the collective
responsibility to march forward in the pursuit of equality, rejecting the notion
of satisfaction until justice prevails.

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Annotation
Concept
Annotation is the process of adding notes, comments, or explanations to a
text, helping to highlight key points, provide context, and offer insights for
better understanding

Annotation for the speech

Call for Unity: The speaker begins by expressing joy and unity in joining the
demonstration for freedom. The emphasis on a historic moment
underscores its significance.
Historical Reference: Reference to the Emancipation Proclamation signed
five score years ago serves as a historical anchor, highlighting its symbolic
importance in the fight against injustice.
Continued Injustice: Despite the Emancipation Proclamation, the speaker
laments the persistent oppression and discrimination against African
Americans a century later. The metaphor of being on a "lonely island of
poverty" amid material prosperity vividly illustrates the ongoing struggles.
Purpose of the Demonstration: The speaker states the purpose of the
gathering is to dramatize the shameful condition of racial inequality,
emphasizing the need to bring attention to the ongoing struggles faced by
the African American community.
Metaphor of "Cashing a Check": Referring to the Constitution and
Declaration of Independence as a promissory note, the speaker uses the
metaphor of "cashing a check" to convey the unfulfilled promise of equal
rights for all Americans, regardless of race.
Commitment to Nonviolence: There is a call for maintaining dignity and
discipline in the struggle for civil rights. The emphasis on nonviolent
protest and the rejection of physical violence is stressed as a crucial
aspect of the movement.
Recognition of Allies: Acknowledgment of white allies who support the
cause demonstrates a nuanced understanding that the struggle for civil
rights is not about animosity towards an entire race but rather a collective
pursuit of justice and equality.
Unity and Continuous Struggle: The speaker emphasizes the
interconnected destinies of all individuals and the commitment to march
forward without turning back. The pledge to continuously strive for
progress highlights the enduring nature of the fight for civil rights.
Rejection of Satisfaction: The speech concludes with the declaration that
the struggle will not end until the unspeakable horrors of police brutality
against African Americans cease, expressing a refusal to be satisfied until
justice prevails.

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Assumptions
Concept
An assumption is a belief or statement that is considered to be true without
explicit evidence or proof. It forms the basis of an argument or thought
process and influences the interpretation of information

Analyzing assumptions in the speech

Assumption of Shared Historical Understanding: The speaker assumes that
the audience shares a historical understanding of the Emancipation
Proclamation and its significance as a symbol of hope for enslaved
individuals. The assumption is that the audience recognizes the historical
context.
Assumption of Unfulfilled Promises: The speaker assumes that the
promises of freedom and equality made in the Constitution and
Declaration of Independence have not been fully realized, especially for
black Americans. This assumption underlies the call to "cash a check" and
the ongoing struggle for civil rights.
Implicit Agreement on Injustice: There's an assumption that the audience
acknowledges the injustice faced by African Americans a century after the
Emancipation Proclamation, as described in terms of continued
segregation, discrimination, and poverty.
Assumption of Collective Responsibility: The speaker assumes a shared
understanding that the struggle for civil rights is a collective responsibility.
The notion that the destiny of white individuals is tied to the destiny of
black individuals implies a belief in shared accountability for societal
change.
Assumption of Nonviolence as a Principle: The call for dignity, discipline,
and a rejection of physical violence assumes a shared belief in the
principle of nonviolent protest as a means of achieving civil rights.
Assumption of White Allies: The speaker assumes a recognition among the
audience that there are white individuals who support the civil rights
movement. The mention of white brothers attending the demonstration
suggests an acknowledgment of interracial solidarity.
Shared Commitment to Progress: The pledge to always march ahead and
the rejection of turning back assumes a shared commitment among the
audience to continuous progress and the belief that the struggle for civil
rights is an ongoing process.
Implicit Agreement on Police Brutality: The statement about police
brutality assumes an acknowledgment among the audience that such
horrors exist and that they are a fundamental issue in the fight for civil
rights.

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