"I Have a Dream" by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on August 28, 1963 created a movement that changed America forever. He did so by being a civil rights leader that was willing to do anything for change. King devoted a large portion of his life to fight the battle of racial equality, but did so with a different approach. He was always willing to do anything to get this, as long as it was peaceful.  During his life King was arrested twenty-nine times because he believed in the right to stick up for himself, and anybody treated unfairly. Many historical events in US history influenced this great speech, including another famous speech, the Emancipation Proclamation one hundred years before. 

As we have seen, "I Have a Dream" created a huge change in the civil rights movement. Without this speech, the voices of millions would have never been heard, and King's passion would have never made a difference. He effectively reached out to the country as a whole, instead of showing the segregation like Malcolm X did. 

For this reason, his speech grabbed the attention of the audience. King reached out to them on a personal level when he publicly gave his speech. Instead of speaking to just his people about a revolt, he used sensitivity to try and bring everyone together. King's whole speech was based around the idea of no man being greater than another. Religion, race or sex, there should be no barrier set forth. He makes it clear that there are multiple types of discrimination, and they are all in this together. Although the black people have been denied equality over and over, they must still fight until they win. These unalienable rights belong to everyone.

When this speech was read in front of the Lincoln Memorial, the power that day was unmatched. Fifty- two years later this speech is still read and analyzed as one of the greatest ever made. Dr. King delivered the speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial as a racial justice activist. He wanted to integrate society and get rid of any racial barrier that was still present, post civil war. King traveled the country making speeches and became a leader for the black community and many others as well.

It can be seen from the analysis above that many events in history influenced Martin Luther King when he wrote this speech. For example, he went back as far as the Declaration of Independence. He simply asks for everyone to be given the same three things, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Another famous moment he referenced was the Emancipation Proclamation. When reading over both documents side by side, there are very many similarities. King mentioned Abraham Lincoln as a great man and what he had done for his people. Lincoln set up the platform by letting the slaves free, but King knew another step had to be taken. He wanted to create as big of a revolution the former president, but finally reach the equality that was promised to them.

Furthermore, King also references the Bible in his speech. He uses the bible to defend his position on segregation and shows that the writings of the bible agree with him. The most famous reference in his speech was when he said "One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition." (King). He shows that his is shameful of what is happening in this country that he loves, and brings in his personal beliefs. Although he talks about the bible, King never demotes another religion. 

In addition to his beliefs, Martin Luther King reached out to the average American. He was responding to the people from the south, north, to blacks, whites, and everything in between with a call for equality. The theme of this speech was stated when he said, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." (King). Throughout the segregation, and mistreatment that the black community went through, he never went for vengeance. The key was that over time, equality needed to happen and that was in the future of the United States. He referred to many political, but also social problems that needed every man to be equal. King alluded to many historical references such as The Declaration of Independence when clearly stated all men are to be created equal. He made it clear that to have change, they must not use action, but a peaceful protest. If they were to use violence, then the white people would have a reason to fight. They would be able to say that this violence was uncalled for, and therefore retaliate physically as well. He let his audience know that freedom was in their own hands and they decided their fate. Change was going to happen, but the way it was going to happen was left up to each person. 

The power in his speaking came from his allusions and also his repetition. King constantly repeated "I have a dream" to begin his sentences. Although it was cliche, he did so effectively because every person has a dream of some type. He showed that with emotion he could give his audience hope. He showed his listeners that there was a need for change and influenced them to follow him. The amount of detail King uses makes his point of view very clear and gets more than just his people listening to him. 

Similar to Malcolm X, Martin Luther King wanted his people to stop being treated unfairly. ). King grew up middle class and graduated college with a PhD and Malcolm X made it through poverty with little to no schooling whatsoever. They were both well known ministers and very strongly used their religion in speeches.  King believed in Christianity and referred to the bible in many of his speeches. Malcolm X grew up as a Christian but then converted to following the teaching of Sunni Islam. While they both were very passionate about their fight, there beliefs were opposite. King fought with protests and never would use violence. He felt that the only way to accomplish something was with peace. Malcolm X believed differently, he used violence and said that he will win his way "By any Means Necessary" (Malcolm X).

The power these men both used is what made them so famous. King was famous for his fight towards equality and his march on Washington. During this march, King gathered an audience of over twenty- thousand people of all races, and marched all the way to the Lincoln Memorial. The significance of this was the joining of races in a time of segregation. Malcolm X was not intrigued by this march. He felt what King was doing was wrong and that there should be no integration. Malcolm X believed in equality, but still wanted the segregation. He felt that "his people" should want to help themselves rather than the white men. 

After twenty-nine arrests, and an assassination, Martin Luther King Jr. is viewed as a hero to the United States of America. His resiliency and will to never give up until equality was found is what gained him his supporters. It was uncommon in the 1960's to have black man with races of all types following him. He spoke with pride and compassion, sensitivity and honor to stand up for what he believed. King mentioned many historical events that happened in order to get the attention of his audience. The civil rights movement was shaped by the leaders prior to King, but also by the new ideas he built off of them. "I Have a Dream" is greatly influenced by another honorable man, Abraham Lincoln. 

