In the United States of America, from the founding of the country in 1776 to the abolition of slavery in 1865, it was legal for Africans and African Americans to become slaves. Discrimination and inequality have not disappeared. On August 28, 1963, civil rights activist Martin Luther King addressed these issues in his historic “I Have a Dream” speech. On the 58th anniversary of the speech, we reviewed its history and influence.
history
On August 28, 1963, an event called the Washington Parade took place. It emphasizes the importance of the civil and economic rights of African Americans. The event was organized by American trade union member A. Philip Randolph and civil rights activist Bayard Rustin. An estimated 250,000 people participated, most of whom were black Americans. Hollywood actors such as Sidney Poitier and Marlon Brando attended the event. Martin Luther King Jr. was the last speaker and delivered the historic “I Have a Dream” speech.
Martin Luther King prepared a short formal speech in which he talked about the plight of fellow African Americans in the United States, who are plagued by racial discrimination and segregation. After the American gospel singer Mahalia Jackson urged him to share his “dream” with the American people, Luther King Jr. expanded his speech.
This speech
Luther King reminded his audience that President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, and he has since ended slavery in the United States forever. Then he talked about the racial discrimination, segregation and poverty of colored people in the United States, which requires racial justice and full civil rights. Then, he mentioned his dreams of friendship, unity and freedom between different races.
Influence
On August 28, 1963, Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech was the culmination of the nonviolent civil rights movement in the United States from 1954 to 1968. Speeches and demonstrations influenced the passage of the American Civil Rights Act. The Voting Rights Acts of 1964 and 1965. This incident was a major victory for African Americans and their allies, who fought a long and hard struggle to highlight racial inequality and discrimination.
