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The “I have a dream” speech - Martin Luther King Jr. - Referat
Define the most important elements of MLK’s dream
• That everyone receives the unalienable rights that were guaranteed in the constitution (-> justice, equality)
o Life, liberty (freedom) and the pursuit of happiness
• The protests should be creative and not violent
• All black people have to stay together to achieve their dreams
• They will fight and not be satisfied until they achieve justice
o People have to be hopeful when they go home because their situation will change
What is the general message of the speech?
• That black people have been oppressed too long and that the things the constitution promised, the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are not fulfilled by society
• It is the right of the black people to get back what should have been theirs and they have to stand together to peacefully accomplish equality
• His dream is anchored in the American dream (-> it is an old idea that has to be brought to life)
What rhetoric means and images does Martin Luther King use in his speech? Point out reasons for his choice.
• He directly addresses the people and offers them ways how they can change something (the audience is pretty engaged so you here in the audio how people answer his demands)
• He starts many sentences with “I have a dream”, which leads to a better memory of what he said and that it is clear that this is (at the moment of his speech) only a dream and not reality
• He mentions many places and characteristics which many people can identify with (he also addresses various age groups and interests)
• It is on a very personal basis because he mentions his own experience and the hopes he has for his children
• In addition to the starts of many sentences when he says “I have a dream” he puts this phrase in between sentences so it is remembered better
Do you think MLK’s dream has come true today? You can use the information given in the tables.
• If you want to evaluate if his dream has come true today it is important to point out two aspects: laws and reality
• In the constitution black and white people have equal rights
• In reality racism is a big part of (the) modern American society
• Black people are quickly judged by for example police officers -> many black people are shot without a suspect
• There are many aspects where black people (and other minorities) still have disadvantages. For example, money: in average the net worth of white families is about ten times as high as the net worth of a black families and 25% of black families are below the poverty Level (9.1% of white people)
• Also, black people are twice as much unemployed as whites often
• The median family income of black families in 2015 is as high as white family incomes were in 1985
• Cities like Baltimore show that crime, a bad education, and single mothers are mainly a problem of black populated areas
• Black middle class is very young (in comparison to white middle class) and much more instable because the people have worked to reach it (missing “cushion”), and did not have a large heritage like many whites -> financial crises or illnesses can destroy a middle-class black family
• Nevertheless, it is possible for black people nowadays to reach high levels like getting university degrees, being in high military or economic positions. The election in 2008 has proven that it is even possible to become president
• Many people accept black people in high positions but racism is still a big problem in the American society
• In conclusion you can say, that the constitution guarantees everybody the same rights but in reality, black people have it much harder to reach a decent living, middle class or a good education but it is possible
o Black people still have many disadvantages but can reach the same goals as whites (it just is much harder)
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