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Martin Luther King Where Are We Summary

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In Where Are We, Martin Luther King provides readers with detailed descriptions of the events which took place in the U.S. to prompt formation of the Rights Act. In fact, the Act had been formed earlier, but people were fighting for it to be signed into law. It was in August 1965 when the U.S. experienced a significant transformation under President Lyndon. Many white and Negro leaders had crowded the president’s room to witness the signing of the 1965 Voting Rights Act (Martin Luther King 177). It was an important event for the citizens since it put to an end the denial of Negros to practice their democratic right of casting the ballot. They had also experienced a century of denial by terror and evasion which prevented them from exercising some of their rights to freedom. The primary issue as described in the article is a declaration by the national government to provide a law which ensures every Negro enjoys his or her full rights as a citizen. The author was motivated by the incidents which involved denial of rights for some communities implying inequality in the country. According to him, the triumph for freedom is as huge as any victory won on the battlefield. It represents an individuals’ greatest achievement in life since it signifies an opportunity to choose between what is right or wrong. The article brings out some of the challenges …show more content…

However, the administration as voiced by the author did not allow free and fair expression of personal ideas. For example, it is evident from the text that people were rejoicing the signing of Voting Rights Act, an implication that they did not enjoy democracy before (Martin Luther King 189). Therefore, it is apparent that when it comes to a country’s peace, the freedom to choose a leader by voting is a predictor of a better environment in any

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On March 7th, 1965, a day now known as “Bloody Sunday”, displayed the tragedy of civil rights activists being brutally assaulted. This horrific example of blatant racism and hatred towards African Americans demanded a reaction from our government. The current President, Lyndon B. Johnson was tasked with uniting a country that seemed on the brink of conflict within itself. There were talks of him sending a bill that would declare the right of voting for all citizens. Lyndon B. Johnson had received criticism for how long it took him to send a voting bill to Congress.

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The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, among other landmark legislation, were direct results of the activism and advocacy led by Dr. King and his contemporaries. These laws aimed to dismantle systemic racism and uphold the principles of the social contract by guaranteeing equal rights and protections for all citizens. However, it is important to acknowledge that Dr. King's work was not without challenges and opposition. He faced significant resistance, threats, and violence throughout his life.

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