Summary: The Fiftieth Anniversary Of The March On Washington
Summary of the Speech "The Fiftieth Anniversary of the March on Washington” by President Barack Obama
Even though some people think Martin Luther King is only remembered for helping the African Americans rally for their rights, he is responsible for much more. He helped Americans find their strength, and subsequently helped us learn that in the face of any odds, people who love their country can change it together.
Barach Obama’s speech was addressed specifically to the King family, President Clinton; President Carter; Vice President Biden and Jill, and all Americans. Fifty years ago Martin Luther King gave his “I have A Dream” speech, and Americans gathered to rally their privileges of the rights made possible to them by signing of the Declaration of Independence. These rights had been proclaimed for almost two hundred years, and a war was even fought for them, but still, they were unmet. Many Americans rallied at our nation’s capital to petition for their rights, and request the government to appeal. These Americans were from all different walks of life, all across the land, both Blacks, Whites, Women, and Men, and many of them had traveled a great distance, relying on each other to get them to the capital. …show more content…
Dr.
King was the voice for all Americans petitioning their rights on this day, and to this day he is remembered for his ultimate power and prophecy. Although Dr. King was the voice, and his speech ultimately remembered for on this day, we should also remember that this day belonged to everyone who faced this segregation and were denied their basic American rights. These people who Dr. King made his voice for, were the ones who were not being listened to, the ones who wanted change and would rally for it, the ones who knew that freedom will ring by the grace of God. The men and women who learned from Frederick Douglass’ experience, that freedom must be won, and that it is not
given.
This spirit of fighting for freedom was brought to this rally, and continued to become the soul of many Americans facing this segregation. They took this spirit back home, and boycotted, started campaigns, and held together through pain and setbacks. They kept marching their spirit, and, because they never let down, a Civil Rights law was passed, a Voting Rights law was signed, opportunities arose, city councils changed, state legislatures changed, and Congress changed, and even the White House changed. Their spirit caused America to become freer for African Americans, and rights for others who were once segregated followed.
America has changed for anyone strong enough to march for this change, and it was because of the strength of the spirit they started from Martin Luther King’s Speech. This freedom was won because of their spirit, and their endurance, and we owe them for this strength they had, that caused our lives today to be freer. The men in our history who have given their life and strength for our freedom is not in vain, they are remembered, and their victories are great
But we are not finished, we may be close, but we will continue to fight towards morals and freedom. Those men and women marched for freedom, jobs, economic opportunity, and we will continue. The goals Dr. King explained are our goals today and we will continue to bridge the gap in wealth between races, and the gap of working Americans still looking for employment. We are reminded that the men and women of the march only wanted middle-class life, something higher than the poverty they held. We will become strong again, we will not make the mistakes of history, and we will control our own fate. We will work together and regain the strength and force required to walk together for good jobs and just wages. We will face challenges as they did before, but we will get there, and we will get there together.
Just as the young, so is our new generation; this generation holds the same fire, and will ignite us all. The people must rally together and realize that it is not just Washington; it is the people and their strength that causes strength. We have learned that the strength of our people can change America in the face of all odds, and when we join together our strength will prevail.
Works Cited
Obama, Barack. "The Fiftieth Anniversary of the March on Washington." Lincoln Memorial. 28 August 2013. Speech.
"President Obama Marks the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington." The White House. The White House, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.
Even though some people think Martin Luther King is only remembered for helping the African Americans rally for their rights, he is responsible for much more. He helped Americans find their strength, and subsequently helped us learn that in the face of any odds, people who love their country can change it together.
Barach Obama’s speech was addressed specifically to the King family, President Clinton; President Carter; Vice President Biden and Jill, and all Americans. Fifty years ago Martin Luther King gave his “I have A Dream” speech, and Americans gathered to rally their privileges of the rights made possible to them by signing of the Declaration of Independence. These rights had been proclaimed for almost two hundred years, and a war was even fought for them, but still, they were unmet. Many Americans rallied at our nation’s capital to petition for their rights, and request the government to appeal. These Americans were from all different walks of life, all across the land, both Blacks, Whites, Women, and Men, and many of them had traveled a great distance, relying on each other to get them to the capital. …show more content…
Dr.
King was the voice for all Americans petitioning their rights on this day, and to this day he is remembered for his ultimate power and prophecy. Although Dr. King was the voice, and his speech ultimately remembered for on this day, we should also remember that this day belonged to everyone who faced this segregation and were denied their basic American rights. These people who Dr. King made his voice for, were the ones who were not being listened to, the ones who wanted change and would rally for it, the ones who knew that freedom will ring by the grace of God. The men and women who learned from Frederick Douglass’ experience, that freedom must be won, and that it is not
given.
This spirit of fighting for freedom was brought to this rally, and continued to become the soul of many Americans facing this segregation. They took this spirit back home, and boycotted, started campaigns, and held together through pain and setbacks. They kept marching their spirit, and, because they never let down, a Civil Rights law was passed, a Voting Rights law was signed, opportunities arose, city councils changed, state legislatures changed, and Congress changed, and even the White House changed. Their spirit caused America to become freer for African Americans, and rights for others who were once segregated followed.
America has changed for anyone strong enough to march for this change, and it was because of the strength of the spirit they started from Martin Luther King’s Speech. This freedom was won because of their spirit, and their endurance, and we owe them for this strength they had, that caused our lives today to be freer. The men in our history who have given their life and strength for our freedom is not in vain, they are remembered, and their victories are great
But we are not finished, we may be close, but we will continue to fight towards morals and freedom. Those men and women marched for freedom, jobs, economic opportunity, and we will continue. The goals Dr. King explained are our goals today and we will continue to bridge the gap in wealth between races, and the gap of working Americans still looking for employment. We are reminded that the men and women of the march only wanted middle-class life, something higher than the poverty they held. We will become strong again, we will not make the mistakes of history, and we will control our own fate. We will work together and regain the strength and force required to walk together for good jobs and just wages. We will face challenges as they did before, but we will get there, and we will get there together.
Just as the young, so is our new generation; this generation holds the same fire, and will ignite us all. The people must rally together and realize that it is not just Washington; it is the people and their strength that causes strength. We have learned that the strength of our people can change America in the face of all odds, and when we join together our strength will prevail.
Works Cited
Obama, Barack. "The Fiftieth Anniversary of the March on Washington." Lincoln Memorial. 28 August 2013. Speech.
"President Obama Marks the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington." The White House. The White House, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.