Essay Example on Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream Speech

Human nature is complex and has many different aspects of it, but there are also still overlying similarities no matter the time period. One of these is the judgment of a person based on their skin color. Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream speech during the March on Washington is one of the most influential pieces of writing in American history that reflects this aspect of humanity, and nearly sixty years later it provides us with information about how humans act. King’s speech addresses issues that are still common in today’s society, yet is viewed differently than it was fifty-eight years ago. It reflects how humans have grown, but their problems have not gone away. 

In 1963, the Civil Rights Movement was in full effect. They had many rallies, one of these being the March on Washington where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his infamous I Have a Dream speech. The speech was one of many calls for equality during the movement, and helped create important laws and acts for civil rights. Though the speech as a whole impacted me, specific parts have a greater impact on me such as “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,” and “I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.” This is because King talks about how everyone was promised equality under the declaration of independence, but even people of different races just being in the presence of each other would be impactful. What also left an impression on me was that in his speech, King talks about not only his hope for equality through rights, but also for future generations to get along regardless of skin color. 

When looking back at King’s speech, we can see the advancements made in racial equality. It shows the impact one man can have on history, and how when someone who is placed on a pedestal uses their voice for good, serious improvements can be made. It reflects the good in humans and how when everyone comes together for a cause, serious change occurs despite serious opposition. I feel a sense of hope and pride for humanity when I think about this and how far we as an entire race have come. Even though there were many supporters of King, there were also those who were against his beliefs, as there always will be. King showed through his speeches and actions that good prevails and violence is not necessary. On the other hand, I am upset by the fact that these problems have not gone away. There are still disagreements, crimes, and disputes purely because of race. Also, there are still aftermaths of racial inequality such as education and income inequalities. There are many incidents in the news that show racism still occurs everyday as well. This provides important information about humans. Though there are peaceful protests against racial inequality to this day, there are also people who use it as an excuse to riot and loot.  It shows that no problem of the human race ever goes away, and that the best that can happen is that it is easier to control and occurs far less. Since the beginning of civilization there has always been racism, and this is something that humans unfortunately cannot get rid of. A speech given fifty years ago being able to apply to today’s problems shows that as humans change and evolve, so do the problems that come with living in a complex society.