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Hansen, Drew D. The Dream, Martin Luther King, JR. and the Speech that Inspired a Nation.

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The Civil rights movement is believed to have started on December 5, 1955. Although some people may argue the movement started earlier, this is the believed date because of the first successful major protest by the movement started that day.

Quote #1

"The modern civil rights movement is conventionally thought to have started on December, 5, 1955, the first day of a boycott of the segregated city buses in Montgomery, Alabama" (5).

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The city of Birmingham was fiercely governed by Eugene "bull" Connor who upheld Jim Crow laws. He bombed so many black homes and churches that some people started to refer to the city as "Bomingham". King and other civil rights activists organized a peaceful protest in the city, to which they were responded with violence by the police.

Quote #2

"A victory in Birmingham, king thought, would show that segregation could be defeated anywhere in the country" (11).

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Attacks on major civil rights activists and protesters

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Attacks on major civil rights activists and protesters

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Many civil rights activists were attacked and killed by haters. On May 28, the home of Medgar Evers was firebombed, the police just said it was a "prank". 2 weeks later he was killed by a sniper near his house. Many others were sprayed by high-pressure hoses, those who shielded themselves were beat by police. A black voter returning from the voting office was arrested and taken to jail for going into a "white only" bathroom. The peaceful protests were met with inhuman violence never seen before on American citizens.

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Abuse and inhumane treatment tiring the black community.

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Abuse and inhumane treatment tiring the black community.

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People were beaten like crazy just for walking into a "white" bathroom. When a women was taken to a jail, she was locked up in a cell with other similar people. One by one they beat them, they told her "We are going to make you wish you was dead" (21). This was outright brutality and the negro community was tired of this. They finally decided to show the nation that they wanted freedom, and they wanted it now. So plans began for the preparation of the march on Washington.

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The March was scheduled for August 28, 1963, The government started preparing for a lot of people to come to D.C. The FBI was investigating MLK and other major civil rights activists to make sure they wen't planning on any violence. The stage was prepared with backup plans. In case a riot was about to start, they set up a system that would unplug the speakers and play "He's got the Whole World in his Hands". Others set up vendors to make business since so many people were coming. Finally, the day schedule was being laid out. Speakers prepared their speeches, and speech times were adjusted.

Quote #3

"As the day of the march drew nearer, Rustin and the heads of the sponsoring groups began to draw up a schedule for the day's events. The most contentious issue proved to be the composition of the afternoon program of speeches at the Lincoln Memorial. By August several important religious and labor organizations had joined the major civil rights groups as cosponsors of the march, bringing the total number of sponsoring organizations to ten" (22).

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The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

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The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

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Some marchers left a few days early to make it on time for the March on August 28, 1963. Most of The protesters started rolling in as early as 1:00 AM, and kept coming in until around 12:00 PM. Some took buses and cars, others trains; Still others took the journey on foot. Some of the major civil rights activists were worried that if at least 100,000 people didn't show up, then the march won't be as successful. But an estimated quarter million (250,000) people showed for the March. When they started to arrive, they sang songs of freedom, and liberty. They started their march by walking to the Lincoln memorial for the speeches.

Quote #4

"The original plan was for the heads of the major civil rights groups to emerge from morning meetings with members of Congress and lead the marchers from the Washington Memorial to the Lincoln Memorial. But when the first demonstrators started to walk, the leaders were still in their meetings. They came out to find tens of thousands of people walking purposefully ahead of them. 'My God, they're going,' shouted Bayard Rustin, whose carefully planned mach has been off schedule from the start" (39-40).

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The "I Have a Dream" Speech was the last speech of the day, it was given by MLK on the day of the march. The Speech was pre-written out by MLK and revised by many more people before king delivered it. During his speech, when he started nearing the end, he left to script completely. King went off the rails of the plan, and spoke of his dream. This dream was a prophetic vision, a vision of a new United states of America. A vision for a free America, a vision for racial equality! After King stepped away from the podium, Ralph Abernathy embraced king and told him that

"The Holy Spirit had taken hold of you during the speech" (164).

King himself didn't fully understand where he got these words, he said:

"'The I have a Dream' refrain just came to me 'All of a Sudden'" (164).

(Quote #5)

Outside source #1
I Have a Dream speech by Martin Luther King Jr.

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After the famous "I Have a Dream" speech, the negro community thought that their freedom will be given to them that day, as MLK said "Free at last, Free at Last, thank God Almighty, we are free at last!" (62). But little did they know, they had to watch the dream be turned into a nightmare. So much more persecution and suffering had to be endured before they will finally see the dream as a reality. The black community will have to go through a long period of wondering in the desert, before they enter the promised land!

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The civil rights act of 1964 gave African-Americans more rights and freedom. This law prohibited the discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. So although the situation for African-Amercans brightened up a bit, it still wasn't the end of discrimination.

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Selma to Montgomery, the march for voting rights

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Selma to Montgomery, the march for voting rights

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On March 25th, 1965 Martin Luther King led thousands of non-violent protesters to the steps of the capitol in Alabama. There the SNCC and the SCLC were campaigning for voting rights.

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The uphill battle of integrated home sales

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The uphill battle of integrated home sales

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King fought for the right of any person, to live anywhere. So there will no longer be a "white" neighborhood and a "black" neighborhood, but a united neighborhood. Even though congress stopped segregation, they did not desegregate, so King made it a priority in 1966 to provide "open housing" for everyone. He addressed this issue in his impassioned speech at a soldier field on July 10, 1966.

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The "I've been to the Mountaintop" speech was the last speech MLK ever gave. This speech was said by King the night before his assassination. In this speech he talked about him being at the mountaintop, seeing the promised land, a new America. King wanted to stay at the mountain top, but knew that he needed to defend to the valley to get all the people to the mountaintop. He knew that if in his lifetime, then in the lifetime of the next generation, America will be a sweet land of liberty!

Quote #6

"Well, I don't know what will happen now; we've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life-longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over, and I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as people, will get to the Promised Land. And so I'm happy tonight; I'm not worried about anything; I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord" (206).

Outside source #2
Clip from "I've been to the Mountain top" speech by MLK

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On April 4, 1968, MLK was assassinated by James Earl Ray, who was convicted and sentenced to 100 years in prison.

Quote #7

"On April 4, 1968, the day after he delivered his 'I've Been to the Mountaintop' speech, Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated. His coffin was carried through the Atlanta streets on a farm wagon pulled by a brace of mules, emblematic of his crusade against poverty" (207).

Outside Source #3
MARTIN LUTHER KING ASSASSINATED 1968

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When the news about MLK being assassinated spread, many news agencies started to play bits and pieces of his protests and speeches on the radio and TV. The march, and other protests were back in the news later that month, reminding Americans of King's life and legacy.

Quote #8

"By the middle of April 1968, a short biography called 'I Have a Dream' and an unauthorized book of King quotations (also called 'I Have a Dream') and appeared for sale. Life's excerpts from Coretta Scott King's book about her husband were titled 'He Had a Dream'" (209).

Outside source #4
Clip from MLK's funeral

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When King was assassinated, and the media started re-broadcasting his speeches, many people were stirred up again. Lots of riots and protests broke out in many cities of the United States, there was much civil unrest, and the people demanded freedom and equality.

Quote #9

"Riots and looting struck 130 cities in the days after King's assassination, causing over 45 million dollars in property damage and resulting in 43 deaths and more than 20,000 arrests. Many politicians feared that more-violent black leaders would take over the civil rights movement in King's absence" (209).

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Since king was such an influential person, people wanted a federal holiday to remember his life and lasting legacy in the United States. With the help of God, he has changed this nation and he should be remembered for it.

Quote #10

"King himself had to be accepted as an American hero, which was impossible until decades after his death. In 1968, when Representative John Conyers first introduced a bill commemorate King's birthday with a national holiday, hatred of King in Congress was still so hot that the bill had no chance of passage. Six days after King's death, Representative William Tuck from Virginia said on the House floor that King 'fomented discord and strife between the races,' and implied that King had gotten what was coming to him: 'He who sows the seed of sin shall reap and harvest a whirlwind of evil'" (215).

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Presidential Medal of Freedom given posthumously to MLK

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Presidential Medal of Freedom given posthumously to MLK

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On July 11, 1977 King was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Carter for his fight for freedom and equality.

Quote #11

"When President Carter awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously to King on July 11, 1977, the citation read: 'From the pain and exhaustion of his fight to fulfill the promise of our founding fathers for our humblest citizens, he wrung his eloquent statement of his dream for America. He made our nation stronger because he made it better. His dream sustains us yet'" (212).

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At some point in the late 1970s and early 1980s MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech became known as the highlight of King's career. It was seen has his vision for the future of the United States of America

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Lasting Impact on United States, and the world

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Lasting Impact on United States, and the world

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Almost 59 years ago when the "I Have a Dream" speech was delivered, we heard the vision for a new country. This Dream is today's reality. Today Jim Crow laws have been long lost and forgotten, and no reasonable person argues that they were ever fair. This Dream, and the new reality, will continue to shape our future us, as a united people.

Quote #12

"Perhaps today, when Jim Crow segregation has long been abolished, and no reasonable person argues that it was ever a just or moral system, King's speech at the march does not have the same prophetic impact that it ounce did" (228).

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1.  MLK's oldest son: Martin Luther King III (age 64)
2. Dexter King (age 61)
3. Oldest daughter: Yolanda king (died in 2007)
4. Youngest daughter: Bernice King (age 59)
5. Only Granddaughter: Yolanda Renee King (age 13)

Outside source #5
King's children continue the legacy

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How Martin Luther King Jr.'s Children Are Carrying on His Legacy 50 Years After His Death

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Since he died in 1968, Martin Luther King Jr.'s children have faced the challenge of growing up without their father and within his shadow