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Martin Luther King: dream sequence Martin Luther King: dream sequence
(25 days later)
Few speeches echo across generations. When they do they share important characteristics. They are breathtakingly courageous, or uniquely of the moment, or both. They combine elements of drama, language and context with a manner of delivery that matches the message's significance. The speech that Martin Luther King made on 28 August 1963, to 250,000 Americans who had marched on Washington, was all these things.Few speeches echo across generations. When they do they share important characteristics. They are breathtakingly courageous, or uniquely of the moment, or both. They combine elements of drama, language and context with a manner of delivery that matches the message's significance. The speech that Martin Luther King made on 28 August 1963, to 250,000 Americans who had marched on Washington, was all these things.
It could hardly have been made in a more portentous setting, in the shadow of the Lincoln memorial in the heart of political Washington. It was the climax of hard months of protest against segregationist laws that kept African American kids out of colleges and coffee bars, women from sitting on buses, families from choosing the best schools. Protest was broken up by the kind of brutality that still clings to the name of places like Birmingham and Selma.It could hardly have been made in a more portentous setting, in the shadow of the Lincoln memorial in the heart of political Washington. It was the climax of hard months of protest against segregationist laws that kept African American kids out of colleges and coffee bars, women from sitting on buses, families from choosing the best schools. Protest was broken up by the kind of brutality that still clings to the name of places like Birmingham and Selma.
President John F Kennedy, fearing riots, had asked civil rights leaders to call off the march. When it went ahead, the FBI installed a panic button in the sound system to cut off inflammatory speech, helicopters hovered above and 19,000 troops were on standby. Dr King himself, a small figure behind a forest of microphones, was the last of 10 speakers. It seems likely that in its early parts, his speech may read better now than it sounded at the time. That at least is one explanation for the singer Mahalia Jackson shouting out, "Tell 'em about the dream, Martin!", prompting Dr King to set aside his prepared text and launch into one of the most famous perorations ever delivered.President John F Kennedy, fearing riots, had asked civil rights leaders to call off the march. When it went ahead, the FBI installed a panic button in the sound system to cut off inflammatory speech, helicopters hovered above and 19,000 troops were on standby. Dr King himself, a small figure behind a forest of microphones, was the last of 10 speakers. It seems likely that in its early parts, his speech may read better now than it sounded at the time. That at least is one explanation for the singer Mahalia Jackson shouting out, "Tell 'em about the dream, Martin!", prompting Dr King to set aside his prepared text and launch into one of the most famous perorations ever delivered.
But there are other reasons why it is such a milestone. The speech was equally persuasive to its two audiences. For black listeners, it was about economic justice and the nation's default on Lincoln's promissory note guaranteeing all men the unalienable rights of life, liberty and justice. But for the many white people who had marched in solidarity, it was at least as much an amplification of a television broadcast made three months earlier, where President Kennedy lifted the fight against racism out of the politics of rights and redefined it as a question of morality.But there are other reasons why it is such a milestone. The speech was equally persuasive to its two audiences. For black listeners, it was about economic justice and the nation's default on Lincoln's promissory note guaranteeing all men the unalienable rights of life, liberty and justice. But for the many white people who had marched in solidarity, it was at least as much an amplification of a television broadcast made three months earlier, where President Kennedy lifted the fight against racism out of the politics of rights and redefined it as a question of morality.
Within two years of what was soon known as "the Dream speech", civil rights and voting laws were finally enacted. Lincoln's promissory note was, in legislative terms, honoured at last. Yet, 50 years on, it is bitterly apparent that it is still not honoured in the everyday lives of African Americans. A black president, yes, but unemployment levels, earnings and the justice system all indicate a society where equality is in retreat. Speeches can only do so much. The dream remains unfinished business: but that only reinforces the power of that moment when Dr King found the words to make people be better than they were, and the speech's enduring power to inspire.Within two years of what was soon known as "the Dream speech", civil rights and voting laws were finally enacted. Lincoln's promissory note was, in legislative terms, honoured at last. Yet, 50 years on, it is bitterly apparent that it is still not honoured in the everyday lives of African Americans. A black president, yes, but unemployment levels, earnings and the justice system all indicate a society where equality is in retreat. Speeches can only do so much. The dream remains unfinished business: but that only reinforces the power of that moment when Dr King found the words to make people be better than they were, and the speech's enduring power to inspire.
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