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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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On August 28th, 1963 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King held one of the most powerful and influential speeches in human history. The speech was held in front of more than 200 000 people and concerned the injustices of discrimination of African Americans which was taking place in the United States at the time. In his first statement he says: “I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.” With this introduction Mr. King firmly states what the essence of his speech will be.

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820 Words | 4 Pages

In the 1960’s during the era of the Civil Rights movement, America had been divided by the voting rights that were not given to the African Americans. Although, a decade ago the African Americans had been freed from slavery, but they were still not considered “equal” because they weren't able to vote. The discrimination in the area even had political leaders affected, therefore many of those political leaders during that time attempted to put an end to the several agonizing events going on. Lyndon B Johnson, a white persistent president speaks out to the lawmakers using compassionate encouraging appeals about voting for Civil Rights, in order to unify the nation “to build a new community”. President Johnson utilizes many devices in his speech such as anaphora, emotional appeals, and

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951 Words | 4 Pages

Americans have lost their lives for centuries in exchange for our nation’s freedom, but is every citizen really free? President Lyndon B. Johnson addressed congress following a police beat down during a peaceful protest in Selma, Alabama. The protest led by Martin Luther King became a turning point in American history; attacks on African American’s at Selma sparked reason in the eyes of many. Johnson used his address to Congress as a call to action, his goal was to ensure freedom and equality for all citizens; they shall not face persecution for the color of their skin. “We Shall Overcome” suggests that the text focuses on the constitutionality of the police beat down in Selma, Alabama and the concern of how our nation will overcome the issues of racism.

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291 Words | 2 Pages

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and congressman Robert Kennedy tried to inspire people who listened to or read their speeches or letters to stand against segregation worldwide by using powerful words that had meaning behind them. In Dr. King's “Letter From Birmingham Jail” he states, “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” This quote inspires many people who read his letter by providing very powerful words which allow the reader to feel strongly about the stand for freedom. Another way Dr. King used strong words to inspire people is by stating in his “I Have a Dream” speech, “Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of

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1236 Words | 5 Pages

Deluged with remarkable linguistics, King’s rhetoric wholly epiphanized and unified a country that had been stricken with unrest by war and hate and thus became the epitome of the March on Washington and the summation of the Civil Rights Movement Summarized Speech The speech encapsulates the desire to remain equal among the exalted American people, those of White color. At the outset King utilizes a policy signed 100 years ago as reference to a declaration of freedom that has only been contorted to produce new boundaries on freedom;

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860 Words | 4 Pages

Imagine standing in front of a crowd, fighting for a cause you believe in, and giving a speech that will inspire change and unity. This was the reality for both Martin Luther King Jr. and Patrick Henry. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech and Patrick Henry's "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" speech are two of the most famous speeches in American history. Both speeches touch on the themes of freedom and perseverance, but they differ in their approach to peaceful protest. Freedom is a central theme in both Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech and Patrick Henry's "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" speech.

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612 Words | 3 Pages

In order to achieve true freedom one must discover that you can break unjust laws through peaceful protest. In “Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and “The Speech at The March Washington” by Josephine Baker each article passionately argues about the disadvantages of the black community, the equality and power of education. We must learn to act with patients and not guns we must protect are self’s with a pen and paper not violence. Dr. King once4 said “Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. It is unique in history which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it.

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475 Words | 2 Pages

America, the land of the free and home of the brave, has lived up to this idea of freedom fit for the future, only to regulate what has not been granted. People around the world are dealing with the views of others, dealing with the inequality and discrimination because of their differences. The text, “Eulogy for Dr. Martin King Jr.”, a eulogy by Robert F. Kennedy, explains that throughout countless oppressions of segregation and inequality, the people of America are forced to fight for their basic right to freedom. Frederick Douglass, an African-American abolitionist, stands by and fights for his people, the minorities that are denied their rights as equals. In hopes for a change to be made, Douglass states, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”

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609 Words | 3 Pages

In Frederick Douglass’s article, “Who Would be Free, Themselves Must Strike the Blow”, indicate that freedom is stand upon on people’s voice. And W.E.B. Du Bois also refers the power of people as “In the people we have the real source of...endless life and unbounded wisdom”(98). He believe we, as individuals, can change the nation. In addition, the author points out even though we beginning a new phrase for equality, we still have to keep work on it.

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1267 Words | 6 Pages

On March 15, 1965, during the height of the civil rights movement, President Lyndon B. Johnson delivered a famous speech entitled We Shall Overcome to a joint session of congress. His speech revolved around the oppression of certain groups at the time and the actions which both congress and all Americans must take in order to overcome the adversity presented by roadblocks to social progress. While his speech mainly focused on the right to vote, the ideas contained within spoke beyond this and ultimately looked at what it means for America to be on the top of the world stage, both from a legal and individual perspective. His speech spoke directly to the American people with lines such as “Because it’s not just Negroes, but really it’s all of

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150 Words | 1 Pages

As many people know, there were two speeches that made a huge change in United States history, the "Glory and Hope" speech by Nelson Mandela and "I Have a Dream" speech by Martin Luther King Jr. Those two speeches made people change their thoughts about racism and also to always follow their dreams. Thus, both speeches had similarities and differences even thou both had the same purpose, to transmit a message of hope. Both speeches addressed the theme of freedom, in Martin L. King Jr.'s speech he gave examples of how black people were treated in a unfair way, he also used repetition in his speech to make people understand the idea of never lose hope and always making your best effort to achieve that right of freedom which every human being

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1088 Words | 5 Pages

“Let freedom ring.” Freedom is all something we all value in life; unfortunately, it wasn’t just handed to all of us. In “I Have a Dream,” Martin Luther King Jr. tries to convince all of America that everyone should be treated with equality. This address is very compelling because it uses tone, repetition, and allusion to convey a point using both compassion and power. The first paragraph references to the Declaration of Independence and our unalienable rights as Americans, trying to argue his point.

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1089 Words | 5 Pages

“Let freedom ring.” Freedom is all something we all value in life; unfortunately, it wasn’t just handed to all of us. In “I Have a Dream,” Martin Luther King Jr. tries to convince all of America that everyone should be treated with equality. This address is very compelling because it uses tone, repetition, and allusion to convey a point using both compassion and power. The first paragraph references to the Declaration of Independence and our unalienable rights as Americans, trying to argue his point.

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1252 Words | 6 Pages

The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence was signed to promise that every American has their rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Yet, the Americans have not honored this great obligation. King says that they must come out of the dark and the shadows to be heard. He will never give up until the nation gives them justice (King, Jr.1). King also talks of nonviolence in his speech, “Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred” (King, Jr. 3).

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874 Words | 4 Pages

I have a dream speech Analysis Martin Luther king Jr once said,“ I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration of freedom in the history of our nation.” He addressed these words on August of 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial after marching through the streets of Washington. He addressed segregation injustice and racial discrimination against African Americans that took place during his era, in his “I have a dream speech.” He recognized that american was founded on freedom, democracy where each individual has a voice and matters. Only few weeks back protesters were getting arrested for fighting for equality.

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