I have a dream
Martin Luther King, in his speech, captures the essence of the moment that the end of racial segregation and oppression of the black people in American society is long overdue. His powerful and captivating oratory skills coupled with his background as a Baptist preacher places his message at the focal point of the issues that America has to ‘grapple’ with, if at all it is to truly become a successful nation. His choice of symbols is both emotive and sharply relevant to the contradicting lifestyles of a deeply polarised American society. On the other hand, the coloured people or ‘blacks’ as they are informally referred to, face dehumanising segregator and socio-economic obstacles in their quest to enjoy basic rights enshrined in the United State’s constitution. This essay will attempt a three-pronged analysis of the agenda raised by Martin Luther King Jr., the emotions he seeks to evoke in his audience and the symbols he deploys to achieve to the end.
The most prominent theme he highlights is that one hundred years after slavery was officially or at least constitutionally outlawed, the black people are still segregated and discriminated against by the mainstream society. Many states have oppressive by-laws that prohibit blacks from sitting at lunch counters, taking a seat in city buses while whites were standing, lodging in Motels of the highways and Hotels of the city among others (Kirk 103). He points out to his audience that their state of poverty and oppression in the midst of prosperity of the American society is symbolically exile. This symbol is particularly emotive given the black’s delicate parentage as a descendant of black slaves who were brought to America to work in the fields and industries during the industrial age of America. The blacks later became naturalized citizens by birth over the generations (Echols 102). The symbol of exile is therefore, a most personal and emotional one depicting the dislocation of a human with his ‘home’ and therefore the African should stand up for what is rightfully his, at least constitutionally.
The other metaphoric symbol that Dr. King uses is a check. The dream of the founding fathers of the American democracy is that all men have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In redeeming these enshrines rights, the blacks will be cashing a check. However, many of the segregatory laws deny blacks these and many more basic freedoms that result in their present poverty and hopelessness (Kirk 103). In this case, the American society is returning the check which is a bad check that has come back marked sign of insufficient funds. Encashment of this check will give the blacks the riches of justice and the security of freedom. Dr. King parallels the freedoms of the black people to a basic component of their livelihood, a check. Again, the matter of money and earning a living in that society is pertinent as it is sensitive. In this manner, he gets the black to relate the fight for freedom with his very survival (Echols 102). The check was like a promise and a sign of hope for both the black and white people. The black people take this check and take it to the bank with hopes that things will change. This check is a symbol of hope to the black people.
After reminding America of the fierce urgency of the current (now) instead of tomorrow, Luther uses metaphors and especially of physical nature for instance, the desolate valleys and the dark in depicting sunlit paths and discrimination for racial justice (Kirk 103). These metaphors point to the physical features that can be easily identified with their daily struggle in moving and living. He draws his audience to such positive endeavours as brotherhood that will be a solid rock for a just and fair society that he advocates to be built in the coming days.
In conclusion, Martin Luther King’s Jr. Speech was a motivational one. This is because it was encouraging many the blacks to be strong that there is light at the end of the tunnel. It is also emotional and moving because of the suffering that the black people undergo.
Works cited
Echols, James. I have a dream: Martin Luther King Jr. and the future of multicultural America. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004. Print.
Kirk, John A. Martin Luther King Jr. Harlow: Pearson Longman, 2005.
Print.
