Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” and “letter from Birmingham jail”


The fight for racial equality has been a serious issue ever since the Declaration of Independence was written. Although countless people had tried to stand out to fight for their own race’s equality, none had succeeded, especially in changing the mindset of people. However, there is one men whose electrifying address, “I have a dream”, helped build up momentum for the civil rights movement. He had great ideas upon what it takes to be a pluralistic society. Moreover, he also laid out a sweeping measure that banned and ruled out racial discrimination in hotels, restaurants, and other commendations. This faithful leader of the “blacks” had even won the Nobel Peace prize in 1964. This prestigious prize proves that he made vital contributions to the society, which was especially significant to the blacks.
In both of his famous speeches, “I have a dream” and “Letter from Birmingham jail”, there is a similar approach that he engages in both his speeches. He uses simple English to convey to others the seriousness of his main purpose of those speeches- to ensure equality among races, the whites and blacks. Furthermore, I think that King also wants to induce true assimilation into the American system and that his “dream” is somewhat similar to the “America Dream”, that anybody from any social status can achieve higher social standings. Furthermore, he is also making use of this true assimilation to fight for a pluralistic country- a true pluralistic society is one that accepts all.
In both speeches, he voices out the importance of racial harmony to America and also the causes and effects of this racial dispute. Looking deep into his first speech, entitled the “Letter from Birmingham jail”, he started out saying, “Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds.” This quote means that anybody, be it the whites or blacks, must see themselves as an outsider. All the more, they should treat each other like how they treat people of their same skin color. They must stop what ever they are all doing and start to compromise with one another in order to seek a one true identity of America.
In response to compromising, King further stated that, “And I am further convinced that if out white brothers dismiss as ‘rabble-rousers’ and ‘outside agitators’ those of us who employ nonviolent…” This quote distinctively shows that the whites are the “bullies” in Birmingham now and that the blacks are employing a nonviolent approach towards those insightful abuses and discriminations. This shows that King and his men are willing to give in now. It is to the whites to take it and perform the process of normalization. The main issue now is “time”, as quoted from King, “….time itself is neutral; it can be used either destructively or constructively.” He knows that time is the key issue here and in order to achieve equality among races, it can take either 10 years or 100 years or even never; depending on how they well they construct their time engagement. If one don’t have the intentions of patching up with the blacks, it doesn’t matter how long it takes as it will never be achieved. That is why in King’s speeches, he builds in a sense of urgency in his decree.
In order to appeal to everyone in America, King also uses simple English to convey his thoughts. In his second reading, “I have a dream”, he brings across the subject of justice and equality using simple English. “Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.” I am sure that anybody could understand what King wants to induce from these lines of metaphors. In short, King relates the issue of racial injustice to quicksand, sucking and despising people into the quicksand and never will they stand up again. Moreover, we must build up a relationship as hard as rock, so that no one can infiltrate the brotherhood of the whites and blacks. However, at what cost to achieve assimilation?
King doesn’t want to achieve pluralism in the means doing harm towards his fellowmen. He wants to instill “true assimilation”, meaning, accepting the minorities or majorities by true heart and not because the law says so. “Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.” This quote from King means that he doesn’t want to achieve freedom by having bitterness and hatred among people. Like what I said, he wants to instill true assimilation in America. As I mentioned in the early paragraphs, in King’s speeches, he engages a serious approach. This serious approach of his is trying to people in America to know that this issue of racial injustice is very important and they must pay absolute attention to it. He also stated that there is no turning point once his speech was being heard. There is only one choice; to continue what he is fighting for and not restrain. “And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back.”
I find this quote very interesting. He is right! The white’s freedom is closely related to the freedom of theirs. That is why both races must walk on together- and that they cannot stop as in any point of time they stop, racial injustice will arise again. That is why they have to march ahead to attain assimilation and mend any mistakes along the way which carries a threat to destroying their brotherhood. In his “I have a dream” speech, what is it that he wants the audience of his to learn about this very dream? What significance does his dream play? “I say to you today, my friends, and so even though we face difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meanings of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal.’”
In his very dream, he wants people to know that he dreams about this country’s prospect, which means that it is not being achieved yet: that equality will be achieved in America. He made use of a good relation of bringing up the American dream into his dream which made his dream significant, as it is related to all people of America. None of them can deny the American dream and so towards his dream. Looking towards the present “now”, the question is, “has his dream be achieved? Or that after all, his entire dream was just a day dream?” In the society of today, there is no doubt that racism is still being seen and applied on. However, there is no sign of discrimination in hotels, within the police men and other public places. But people change their way of performing racism- they joke about them behind their backs. Is this a pluralistic society? Has his dream come true? It is a fact that the assimilation that King wanted had come true in the eyes of law. But deep down within the people’s heart, they still carry colored lens on their opposite race. For that, the true assimilation and having a pluralistic society had not achieved. For that his dream was a day dream. That is something which is justifiable.
It is said that in the Declaration of Independence, the architects of the nation, America, has promised something. “Black men as well as white men-would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” However, the pursuit of happiness has only been promised towards the whites then. What about the blacks? Had the Declaration of Independence forgotten about them or did they choose to forget about them? Who will answer to their happiness? These are the questions I asked myself and I am not able to find a solution to it. I think that King’s approach was a good one. However, I think that he needed more time and he must learn to put his words into action. I can see his cries and unhappiness in his speeches, but I see no actions being carried forward to: probably it is due to his early death. Furthermore, I think that he should make use of those neutral white men and make use of their presence to spread the verse of equality. Ultimately, to attain true assimilation, both the majorities and the minorities have to give up something and compromise. It doesn’t matter which ever group gives out the most. The most important thing is not to give up something in the process of hatred and unhappiness. That is very important as to attain true assimilation; both races must accept each other whole heartedly.
In both readings, “I have a dream” and “Letter from Birmingham jail”, they both issued out something that America is lacking and can be achieved only if they are willing to work together and induce the true meaning of pluralism. Both essays also tell me the importance of racial harmony and do not in any circumstances perform racial discrimination as it is evil and that one is doing harm on others. I shall conclude this essay with this final quote, stated by King in his speech, “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. “Injustice everywhere is a threat to justice anywhere.” May the people of America understands the true meaning of this quote and not perform injustices towards their fellow brothers as it is a threat to the path of a pluralistic society.
benbasket at 7:48 AM