I Have A Dream Speech Summary

“I Have a Dream” is a speech by Dr. Martin Luther King. It is considered one of his most famous speeches delivered in Washington, March 1963. The aim was to advocate for equal rights in access to freedoms and jobs. Dr. King narrated this speech at the Lincoln Memorial in the city of Washington, D.C.

Within this speech, Luther King expressed his notorious conviction and the hope he has for America as well as the need to have changed. He opens his speech by stating his delight in bei9ng together with the empathizers, and those who turned out for the march. King commemorates the signing of the emancipation proclamation a hundred years before the march by Abraham Lincoln. He proclaims that it is “joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity.” After that, he delves into the issues faced by African Americans in the year 1963, claiming that over 100 years later, they still lack freedom.

Instead, they are seriously “crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination.” Additionally, he points out the poverty that blacks have had to persevere. He states that when the constitution was Drafted and the declaration of independence made, the nation’s founders were Drafting a promissory note to each American. That everybody has unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; and this encompasses both black and white men. King laments that America has defaulted on the check whereby black citizens have been deprived of these rights. To be precise, his words were, “America has given the negro people a bad check, a check that has come back marked insufficient funds.”

Theater, Luther King, takes a more optimistic tone be reiterating that the “bank of justice” does not lack funds.

Additionally, he claims that there is a sense of urgency in their mission. His exact words are, “This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism.” He makes use of the four seasons as a metaphor to describe this urgency by stating that the legitimate dissatisfaction of African Americans is a “sweltering summer;” and that equality and freedom shall be like “invigorating autumn.” he makes a promise that this particular protest shall not easily vanish. It is not just about ranting grievances then retreating to the status quo:  he further states that the cyclones of revolution will carry on until justice arises. However, Dr. King offers a word of caution to his people not to indulge in any unlawful deeds. He advises them that, “let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by Drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.” such a sentiment was very critical at that point as Luther King’s leadership was marred by civil disobedience instead of violence. He offered real proof that change was possible without using violence. Even though much violence existed at the time of the civil rights movement, he always stood for peace. Additionally, he urged others to carry out their protests in peace.

He also stressed upon the importance of giving recognition to the whites who were willing to protest for the same cause. He termed them as allies that are necessary to the success of the cause. He insists that the marches will not cease as long as blacks are turned away from hotels, subject to police brutality, segregation, and the denial of voting rights.

After that comes the most famous section of his speech. This is the part the forms the title of the speech. Dr. King states his Dream for the nation of America. This reinforces the equality rights of the protestors. He claims that his Dream is for “the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.” the statement is an emphasis on the need for members of all races to cooperate and live in love. Key to his message within this speech as well as the civil rights movement. In the line: “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 conclusion, he states that every human is God’s child, whether white, black, gentile, Jew, Catholic, or even protestant. He one day hopes they will unite in freedom.