I Have a Dream Speech

On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke in front the entire nation in regards to segregation between blacks and whites. He spoke about the injustice within the country and how the people, whether white or black, should stand up and work together to eliminate it. This speech is considered to be one of the most famous speeches in the history of the United States and from then on, it changed the country forever.
In his “I Have a Dream” speech, MLK Jr. appeals to the history of the U.S. itself. He uses the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. constitution as reference to show his audience how these documents guarantee the “unalienable rights” of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” He tells the people that he is horrified that Negros and other lower class citizens have never been given those rights, even though it is stated in these important national documents. Martin Luther King Jr. ends his speech by saying that he has a dream where people can be treated by their judgment and character, not by their skin color or race, and that freedom would ring from coast to coast.
These are the words Martin Luther King spoke that enlightened the minds of his country. Before he had announced his speech, segregation between blacks and whites was drastically increasing. But after his speech, segregation began to slowly decrease. For example, a year after his speech, the U.S. Civil Rights Act was passed, and a year after that, the U.S. Voting Rights Act was also passed. His speech was able to have the people realize that segregation is not necessary and the color of someone’s skin should not matter. His inspiring words were able to pierce the minds of both white and black citizens and he let it be known that ALL citizens deserve to be free. This courageous and stimulating speech changed the country of the United States forever.

-Marcel Chamberlain