I Have a Dream

Hannah Grippo
Pd CD
Mr. Scooley

Martin Luther King Jr.

Biography

Martin Luther King Jr.

• Born January 15th 1929

• Born in Atlanta, Georgia
• King attended segregated public schools in Georgia, graduating
from high school at the age of fifteen; he received the B. A. degree in
1948 from Morehouse College, a distinguished Negro institution of
Atlanta from which both his father and grandfather had graduated.
• He was a Baptist minister and a civil-rights activist
• In Boston he met and married Coretta Scott and moved to
Montgomery, Alabama
• Had four children
• He was a member of the executive committee of the National
Association of Colored People
• Assassinated April 4th, 1968
 Accomplishments

• He had a seismic impact on race

relations in the United States
• King headed the SCLC
• Received a Noble Peace Prize in
1964
• Created the Civil Rights Act in
1964
• Created the Voting Rights Act in
1965
• Became the 20th pastor of his
church
 Historical Perspective of Speech

• On August 28, 1963 King gave his speech, during the March on Washington.
• The purpose of King’s speech was to give African Americans the freedom and
quality they deserve and also, put an end to discrimination
• This was a defining moment of the American Civil Rights Movement.
• The March on Washington was aimed at obtaining: (1) meaningful civil rights
legislation; (2) a federal works program; (3) the right to vote; (4) integrated
education; (5) better housing; and (6) better employment opportunities.
• King's "I Have A Dream" speech marked one of the most memorable
moments of the March on Washington.
• He spoke of his desire for a future that would overcome the injustices that
were being done in this great country of ours and spoke of the importance of
togetherness for all mankind.
 Impact
• His “I Have a Dream” speech had such an impact which ultimately
led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting
Rights Act of 1965.
• He appealed to our human conscious and spoke those powerful
words that would still today make a strong impact on what we can
do together, only if we stand together as mankind.
• One of the many who were impressed was President Kennedy, who
remarked while viewing coverage of the march in the White House,
“That guy is really good” (Garrow, p. 677).
• Public reaction to the speech was largely favorable. The next day's
edition of the New York Times was generous in its praise, with a
front-page headline reading, “Peroration by Dr. King Sums Up a
Day the Capital Will Remember.” The Motown Company released
an unauthorized recording of King's speech that sold briskly in
African American record stores.
 Theme
“I have a dream that my four little children will one
day live in a nation where they will not be judged by
the color of their skin but by the content of their
character.”
 Key Points

"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.
 Key Points

"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 recognizes 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".
 Key Points

"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.
 Key Points

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will
not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

In this key point King explains how he believes one day his own
children will not be judged anymore by their skin but by their
character. His kids will no longer be discriminated against and
treated equally
 Key Points
“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.“”

In this key point King is trying to say one day everyone will be equal.
We were all made equal and we need to live up to it.
 Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still
have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

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."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former
slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at
the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering
with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be
transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where
they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their
character.

I have a dream today!

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a
nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by
the content of their character.”
 Bonus
Parallelism: “..one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later,
the life of the Negro is still sadly 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 an exile in his own land. And so
we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.”

“….Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the
dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift
our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the
time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.”

“….We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must
not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence.”

“….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.” I have a dream
that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave
owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.”
Bonus
Metaphor: “Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the
solid rock of brotherhood”

Allusion: “Five score years ago, a great American in whose symbolic shadow we stand signed
the Emancipation Proclamation”

Logical Appeal: "Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we
stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as 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“

Emotional Appeal: "But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred
years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly 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 an exile in his own land. And
so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition"
Bonus
Rhetorical Questions: "When will you be satisfied?“

Repetition: “One hundred years later…”

“Now is the time…”

“We must…”

“We can never (cannot) be satisfied…”

“Go back to…”

“I Have a Dream…”

“With this faith, …”

“Let freedom ring (from) …”