My Opera“THE DREAM I LIKE MOST IN THE SPEECH “I HAVE A DREAM”
By phamho. Friday, May 25, 2007 5:14:40 AM
(Composed by Dang Xuan Thai Ngan DH02G-AV28)
Throughout the history, people have struggled for freedom, equality and civil rights not only by violent fighting but also by non – violent movements. Among those who are in favor of non – violent resistance to racism and segregation. Martin Luther King emerges as a significant figure – a political activist, a spokesman, a civil rights movement leader and the soul of the African American community. The speech “I Have a Dream” makes him live forever not only because of its powerful, eloquent and rhetorical expression but also because of his extreme devotion and great desire to struggle for the blacks' rights.
Throughout the history, people have struggled for freedom, equality and civil rights not only by violent fighting but also by non – violent movements. Among those who are in favor of non – violent resistance to racism and segregation. Martin Luther King emerges as a significant figure – a political activist, a spokesman, a civil rights movement leader and the soul of the African American community. The speech “I Have a Dream” makes him live forever not only because of its powerful, eloquent and rhetorical expression but also because of his extreme devotion and great desire to struggle for the blacks' rights.
The speech's demand for freedom, equality and civil rights is firmly expressed in King's dreams. Among them, I think the dream with the most vivid picture and the most overall meaning is “I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers” . I like this dream very much because if this dream comes true, all the remaining dreams will also come true and King's desire for freedom, equality and civil rights will be satisfied. In the 1950s and 1960s, racial discrimination against African American was common everywhere. They were not treated equally and were often denied public service and facilities or even attendance at church. King dreams of someday, when “little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers”, that is the time when there is no racism and segregation and the blacks and whites are brothers and sisters in the same roof without any privilege or discrimination on the grounds of skin color, jobs and social status. The blacks are no longer looked down on because they are not considered as inferior to the whites anymore. When this dream comes true, the blacks and whites have the same social position and there is no unfair prejudice or unjust bias against the blacks. And at that turning point, true equality – not the kind of equality which only exists in the definition of Constitution and Declaration of Independence.
In theory, when Emancipation Proclamation was signed, slavery no longer existed and all slaves were freed. But in fact, while African Americans are a large part of society, they are pushed to the corners and often feel exiled in their own land. Freedom is still a dream to them. The blacks have very little freedom when most of the whites refuse to let them integrate into the US society, which is an invisible obstacles holding back the development of the blacks' community. More sadly, this beautiful dream is still unfulfilled and until now, it is only an imaginary fantasy. The blacks are still oppressed in the harsh reality of racism.
When this wonderful dream becomes reality, racism has been broken down, everyone will become "colorblind" and the blacks will be able to fully assimilate into U.S. society with their cultural heritage and ethnic dignity. They are no longer dominated by the whites and of course, they are citizens of the US with the same rights as every other American. Although the dream of unity and brotherhood is overshadowed by racism and King is still discontent to see African American to be treated as second class citizens, the power of his hope that one day the blacks and whites will be treated as equals and walk side by side with each other has created an incentive for the blacks to stand up to struggle for racial harmony in the most difficult of circumstances.
Today, we have made many advances in gaining racial equality, freedom and civil rights which Martin Luther King spent his lifetime struggling for. However, although we have reached a degree of political and economic nondiscrimination, we still have not opened the door of opportunity to all “God's children” as King says. But I think with many affirmative action policies and law reforms to defend the blacks, they will have a brighter future.
Anonymous # Monday, July 16, 2007 12:42:02 AM
JOSEPH_ MARIA_ NguoiCoDonkiepluuday # Saturday, April 17, 2010 5:32:00 AM
phamho # Tuesday, June 15, 2010 4:41:53 AM