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Let America Be America Again By Dr. Martin Luther King

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was not only a leader of the civil rights movement, but also a beacon of hope for millions of Americans. If he were alive today, he would undoubtedly stand in support of the notion of reparations for the descendants of enslaved Black Americans. As a visionary, he would have proposed a comprehensive and nuanced plan to address the issue, one that would make a lasting impact on the lives of those who have suffered the injustices of slavery. "Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream." These words, spoken by Dr. King in his "I Have a Dream" speech, capture the spirit of what would be his vision for reparations. The idea of justice flowing like a river is a powerful image, one that resonates …show more content…

He notes, "America never was America to me / And yet I swear this oath— / America will be!" The promise that America would be a nation of freedom and opportunity has proven to be a hollow one for many descendants of African Americans who were held in slavery. Our society has been deeply impacted by the legacies of slavery and institutionalized racism, and seeking reparations is an essential first step in ending these persistent injustices. As Hughes expresses, "O, let America be America again— / The land that never has been yet— / And yet must be—the land where every man is free." The argument for reparations is based on the idea that America is a place of freedom and equality for all people. Reparations are required in order to acknowledge the past and current effects of slavery and institutional racism, in addition to providing financial compensation. Hughes describes, "The millions who have nothing for our pay— / Except the dream that's almost dead today." We must all strive together to achieve the dream of a just and equitable society in which all people are appreciated and

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The Case for Reparations Ta-Nehisi Coates, a writer for the Atlantic, argues that the idea of reparations ought to have an important place in discussions of race for Americans in his ten-section article, The Case for Reparations. In this article, Coates uses several specific examples to describe how Jim Crow Laws influence black people’s experience in America and analyze black people’s unequal suffering, relating it with American history. And at last, Coates concludes that America should make reparations for African Americans. First of all, Coates shows African Americans’ unequal treatment throughout American history from pass to present.

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Since the 18th Century Transatlantic Slave Trade, Africans Americans have been confined to a box full labor, mistreatment, and abuse. Countries all over the world slowly understood that having a skin color other than white does not mean that you are less valuable as a human being. However, in the United States of America the idea of African Americans being equal to whites was unreal. Leaders, such as Martin Luther King, Jr., a Baptist minister, the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and key leader during the Civil Rights Movement after World War II, fought so blacks and whites could coexist and so the future could be brighter even if he was not in it. On MLK’s famous “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” MLK speaks with

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Imagine you’re living back in 1963, it’s the year of change, for the better. There’s a man, Martin Luther King Jr., who is one of the most prominent figures in the Civil Rights movements. He has two famous works, First, the Letter from Birmingham Jail. from back in August; a powerful response King gave after reading the criticisms of the clergymen of Birmingham. Second, there is the “I Have a Dream” speech from The March on Washington.

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Reparations for slavery is an ongoing debate, the idea that descendants of Africans who had been enslaved by the Atlantic Slave Trade should receive a compensatory payment is ridicules to many. Author Ta-Nehisi Coates wrote “The Case for Reparations”, and he argues that the idea of reparations is what is important. Coates begins building his argument with personal facts and reliable sources, overall successfully creating an emotional appeal to his readers. Throughout his article he builds a strong argument arguing that we need to start considering what the nation might owe the African American population after everything that’s been done to them. Throughout his article his attempts to appeal to the readers emotions helps build his argument against reparations.

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Dr. King uses many examples of the kinds of problems that African-Americans face every day in Birmingham. One of the reasons that this part of the letter is so effective is because of the degree of specificity that Dr. King uses in his examples of the injustices they face. He reminded them of Warren’s own words on the need for desegregation, “Justice too long delayed is justice denied.” He explains that if you put off justice for a long time, you might forget about it, or you might feel less enthused by action and less strong than you felt before about taking action. Dr. King responds to the disapproval of the timing of public by referring the broader scope of history and declaring that African Americans had waited for these God-given and constitutional rights long enough.

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Reparations Slavery began in America when the first African slaves brought the North American colony of Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619. Through 250 years of enslavement, African Americans feel like reparations, which are amends for a wrong doing, by paying money or helping those who have been wronged, should be in recognition. “The Case for Reparations” by Ta- Nehisi Coates provides the malevolent, segregated history of the Negro population in the United States. Coates explains all the political and economic issues that Negroes have faced and still endure. White America has left the Negro population at an unfair advantage socially, economically, and politically.

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The speaker of “Let us Continue,” Lyndon Baines Johnson very effectively portrayed his main idea with his intended purpose. The main purpose of this speech is that Johnson believes America should keep moving forward and stay strong to make new advancements in our country. The speaker is very passionate about what he is speaking on and he is motivated to continue the work that John F. Kennedy started. The speaker says, “No words are strong enough to express our determination to continue the forward thrust of America that he began.”

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One prominent idea is the idea of monetary compensation, where the descendants of slaves would receive financial restitution for the harm inflicted on their ancestors. Another proposal is the idea of community-based reparations, where resources and investments would be directed toward historically marginalized communities to address systemic inequalities. Additionally, there have been calls for symbolic gestures like formal apologies for slavery and the establishment of a national day of remembrance. Despite these proposals, the issue of reparations has faced significant challenges and resistance. One major obstacle is the lack of political will and public support for reparations among lawmakers and policymakers.

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Civil Rights activist, Martin Luther King Jr, in his speech, “I Have a Dream,” addresses the injustices of African Americans in the United States. King’s Purpose is not only to acknowledge the present issues but to unify the African American population in protest of the segregation of their people. He utilizes concrete diction, imagery, and metaphors in order to convey to African Americans the importance of Civil Rights to all men. King uses concrete diction in his speech to convey the harsh injustices African Americans experience. He begins his speech by identifying that even though the Emancipation Proclamation was declared, “One hundred years later, the life of a Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains

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Martin Luther King Jr. was a civil rights activist. He delivered a very important speech on August 28, 1963. Martin delivered his speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. His speech was called "I have a Dream." Today, I will be talking about the main points in his speech.

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Reparations Needed The topic of reparations African Americans believed they are owed has been a topic of much debate in recent years. Many African Americans feel that reparations are long overdue for the many years that their ancestors labored for nothing. Some have argued as to why reparations are needed and how would they be distributed. Compensation to Blacks for the injustices suffered by them must first and foremost be monetary.

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“Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children,” said Martin Luther King Jr. during his famous, “I Have a Dream” speech. (Staff) This quote created an enormous impact on the world. It helped people understand justice and fairness, which is why Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech should be taught more in middle schools and high schools across the United States, because of the major influence he created on people of different color/race, the history factor of his speech, and his importance to people in generations above us.

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