LAD/Blog #27: MLK, Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech

Martin Luther King Jr. was a well-known advocate of civil rights. His "I have a dream" speech clearly illustrate his support for integration between black and white communities. King references Lincoln and His emancipation proclamation saying that even after one hundred years of slaves being free, the black population is still suppressed by discrimination and segregation. He compares the struggle between the black community and a check. The check, in comparison to the Constitution, was meant to included both black and white citizens. Nonetheless, for blacks, the check was marked "insufficient funds". But, king does not believe "the bank of justice is bankrupt". He pushes for a fight against injustice but warns the people not to lose their dignity. This speech supports the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which ended segregation of public areas and discrimination in employment/education.
Just like King's speech, the Montgomery Bus Boycott was also a part of the civil rights movement  in which people protested discrimination and segregation on public transportation. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

LAD #37: FDR's Executive Order 9066

Image
Taking measured to ensure national security, President Roosevelt issued Executive Order No.9066. This order essentially allowed the creation of military areas which were then used to relocate Japanese Americanas. The President ordered the Secretary of War and Military Commanders to create military areas where people would be excluded and allowed them to impose their own restrictions. This permitted the Secretary of War and Military Commanders to take adequate measured by providing support. This is seen in "Home is a Horse Stall" when Sox goes to the internment camp, which was a military area created by the government. I understand the need for national security of the time, however I believe that excluding Japanese Americans was a step too far, especially since these people were United States citizens.  This is similar to the Dawes Act which permitted the division and reorganization of the Indian  tribal land, forcing them onto reservations like the internment camps. 
Read more

LAD/Blog #35: Home was a Horse Stall

Image
The story of how and wen Sox grew up broke my heart. Executive Order 9066 was put in place by Roosevelt to establish military areas and the Civilian Exclusion Order. No. 27 said that Japanese would be excluded from the West Coast. The first thing that caught my attention was when they were in the car and the radio announcement came on. Yumi expressed how terrible it was for her especially since she was not a US citizen, she's a first generation Japanese immigrant. Her native country was now the enemy and even her children recognized that their lives were going to change. This part portrayed how the children had become integrated into American life, but knew the fact that the US was against Japan would affect their lives. Secondly, the section where Sox sees the army style barracks and says she wants to stay there, however, she is told she cannot, is heartrending. She goes on to see that their new home is a horse stall and this illustrates how Americans did not treat these US citi
Read more

LAD #36: FDR's Declaration of War

Image
On December 8, 1941, the United States declared war on Japan. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor led America to declare war. FDR states that December 7, 1941, the day which Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, was "a date which will live in infamy". FDR goes on to explain how the United States had originally intended not to intervene in the warfare in these countries. However, the Japanese attack resulted in direct destruction of the United States, and American needs to defend itself. He explains how Japan has gotten out of control and have become hostile. Therefore, the United States has to fight them. Jeanette Rankin was the only member of the Houses that voted against the declaration war on Japan, this garnered her the nickname "Japanette Rankin" as she was looked down upon for her vote. This similar to when the United States entered the first world war since then, too, they had to abandon their policy of neutrality in favor of defending themselves. 
Read more