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Comparing We Shall Overcome And Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”- quote from the Declaration of Independence discussing equal rights and freedom for everyone with no exceptions. In president Lyndon B. Johnson’s speech, “We Shall Overcome” and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech, “I have a Dream”, both speeches are arguing for freedom and equality for all American citizens. These two speeches illustrate that freedom must be demanded by the people through protests and marches, and in historical legal documents, it’s shown that people caused the real difference. To elaborate, the people have to demand for their freedom and equal rights through peaceful protests and marches to cause any change for their rights. In the speech, “I Have …show more content…

Nevertheless, paragraph 8 of “We Shall Overcome” adds “But even if we pass this bill, the battle will not be over… It is the effort of American Negroes to secure themselves the full blessings of American life.” Accordingly, the President explains how even with passing a bill, the people will be the ones to make the real change in the matter of causing laws to be made. The end of injustice is not near since we must still fight for our rights. Consequently, paragraph 16 of the same document, “We Shall Overcome”, discloses “The real hero of this struggle is the American Negro. His actions and protests, his courage to risk safety and even to risk his life , have awakened the conscience of this Nation. His demonstrations have been designed to call attention to injustice, designed to provoke change, designed to stir reform.” What is brought to light in these sentences spoken by President Lyndon B. Johnson, are the people who are actually facing the struggle, African Americans, risk everything including their lives, which is what makes laws and equality happen. Without the people demanding their rights, laws would never be made for freedom and equality

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