4.+Equality

E q u a l i t y

In Martin Luther King’s speech, I Have A Dream, King addresses the African American struggle for equality, "And so we’ve come here today to dramatize a shameful condition." Martin Luther King was a spokesperson and a heroic figure against many racist and prejudice ideas that were steadfastly attached to those Americans who chose discriminate against the color of their neighbor's skin.

King also includes in his speech somewhat of an anecdote when he brings up a personal example, including his children and personal life, "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." King continues to refute the injustice of inequality, "We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating: "For Whites Only.".

The overall goal of Martin Luther King's words were to educate the unknowing, inspire the repressed and leave the memory of an important historical uprising, "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." The noticeable tone throughout the text is one of an educated, sophisticated and knowledgeable man. This evokes the thought in every reader's mind that an African American man has the ability and the right to be heard, and thus, held as an equal, "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 me are created equal.'"

On a closing note, Martin Luther King explains his expected vision of a perfect and equal country. He expresses hope that his words are heard with open ears and understood by everyone who can accept equality, "With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discord of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood."

Additional Quotes on Equality: "This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality."

"The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of 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 and they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We can not walk alone."

"I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification"-- 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."