Many US citizens have believed in the American Dream since its start in the early 1900's.  The American Dream is said to be "The set of ideals (democracy, rights, freedom, opportunity, and equality) achieved through hard work in society with few barriers." (Adams).  Within the late 1900's, many Americans strived to push for democracy and equality.  This time period also revolved around strengthening the government and the class system, slavery, and the fight for civil rights.  There were many trying problem within the democratic society in the late 1900's, equality and poverty being a few of them.  Without equality, democracy cannot be successful, and a drastic difference within the social classes are problematic within the democratic system.  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's "A World House" and Cornell West's "The Moral Obligations of Living in a democratic society" both stress the need for equality and the end of poverty in a democratic society during the time period of the late 1900's. 

The central problem both Dr. King and West are arguing in the struggle for a successful democratic system is racism.  With racism still being prevalent, having a voice for African Americans is seen as impossible.  Cornell West's speech written in 2000 describes how racism in today's society has effected democracy. West explains, "Being Black in America is to be a problem.  Du Bois asserted that race in this country is the fetishization of a problem, black bodies in the white space." (West, 457).  West explains that since blacks are seen as a problem, their opinion or voice do not matter, defeating the purpose of the term democracy.  Martin Luther King Jr's speech written in 1967 talks about the race problem as well.  With his speech set in the middle of the civil rights movement, King bring up many points about racism that reflect both the time "A World House" was written and when West presented his speech in 2000.  King's start of the speech fully reflects exactly how to fulfill the American dream as he states, "We have inherited a large house, a great "world house" in which we have to live together-black and white, Easterner and Westerner, Gentile and Jew, ... a family unduly separated in ideas, culture and interest, who, because we can never again live apart, must learn somehow to live with each other in peace." (King, 284).  According to King, the world can be very successful if people learn to work together effectively.  With racism in the US, many African American opinions are seen as irrelevant and do not matter.  King then goes on to explain how racism and economics go hand in hand with the problem with democracy.  "In fact, racism and its perennial ally-economic exploitation- provide the key to understanding most of the international complications of this generation.  The problem of the twentieth century will be the problem of the color line." (King, 287).  King further explains that with racism and economic diversion working together, a democracy cannot stay strong. Dr. King and Cornell West see racism as a huge problem in society within the late 1900's. While there is a thirty-three year gap in between both speeches, both King and West describe how a democracy can thrive with equality and by diminishing poverty.

Both Dr. King and West argues that helping out ones in need will help get rid of poverty and make for a better democracy.  Within "A World House", King associates poverty with a great big war within the US.  In the 1960's poverty was a very problematic within democracy.  King suggests that others should help out the poor and provide ways to get the lower class up to comfortable living.  He states, "The rich nations must use their vast resources of wealth to develop the underdeveloped, school the unschooled and feed the unfed.  The well-off and the secure have too often become indifferent and oblivious to the poverty and deprivation in their mindset." (King, 290).  King argues that the problem with poverty is that the rich and upper class are not willing to help out the ones in need.  Without the help and resources of the rich, the poor are stuck in the lower class without a way to build up.  Within his speech, King believes that working together and helping other citizens will really help Americans thrive in a democratic nation.  Additionally, Cornell West's "The Moral Obligations of Living in a Democratic Society" connects well with King's argument of poverty.  West really goes into detail about democracy within the struggle of the middle class.  He states, "No democracy can survive with a middle class so insecure that it is willing to accept any authoritarian option in order to provide some sense of normalcy and security in their lives.  It also opens the door for significant segments of the middle class to scapegoat those who are most vulnerable." (West, 258).  The speaker says that the instability of the middle class cannot be diminished without the help of the rich.  West suggests that the rich not focus on themselves when discussing money and revenue, but think about what they can do to help the ones struggling.  The speaker claims we are all in the same boat, we go up and down as one. (West 258).  While the rich may be living very comfortably, the democratic society is still falling short due to the loss of equality within the social class.  West also ties poverty and racism together within his speech. West gives a statistic of black poverty in America, stating "42 percent of young brown brothers and sisters live in poverty in the richest nation in the history of the world." (West, 457).  Giving a statistic really gives the audience something to think about and provides a true fact in considering what the speaker is suggesting.   Not only is poverty seen as an issue among American citizens in general, but it is seen in Black American citizens the most. The push for a decline in poverty seen in the late 1900's is a central theme conveyed in both "A World House" and "The Moral Obligations of Living in a Democratic Society"

Lastly, King and West reflect on the future of democracy if the US does not change the issues of racism and poverty. Throughout his speech, West shows doubt in democracy for the future.  The speaker continues to talk about how Americans are staying in the past and not making changes to these problems we have had for a long time.  West explains, "To be part of the democratic tradition is to be a prisoner of hope.  And you cannot be a prisoner of hope without engaging in a form of struggle in the present moment that keeps the best of the past alive." (West, 460).  He goes on to further say there is no optimism in the growth of America without the elimination of poverty and racism.  West suggest we have empathy- to actually have the courage to do something about the problem.  The speaker feels the need to stress that without empathy, the nation will continue to struggle with these two pressing issues, and democracy will fail miserably.  Dr. King's speech supports West's view on America's faith in democracy as well.  Dr. King focuses on the racism side of things as he talks about democracy failing.  He argues, "The oceans of history are made turbulent by the ever-rising tides of hate.  History is cluttered with the wreckage of nations and individuals who pursued this self-defeating path of hate." (King, 298). The speaker goes on to reflect on how the democratic society would not be problematic if racism did not exist.  Different from West, Martin Luther King has hope for America and democracy.  The civil rights activist feels that Democracy will thrive in the future once Americans work together and help each other.  He hopes that eventually the rich will help the poor, and the lower class will be better off.  King ends his speech with a great suggestion to the public, saying, "Every nation must now develop an overriding loyalty to mankind as a whole in order to preserve the best in their society." (King, 298).  Within the two speeches, King and West hope for a promising future in the decline of racism and poverty for a better democratic society. 

In conclusion, Martin Luther King Jr. and Cornell West both argue for the end of poverty in racism in the democratic society during the late 1900's.  While the time period was seen as the time of the American Dream, both king and West pushed to help the US fulfill that dream. Although King and West's speeches were about thirty years apart, they both argue for the same idea and fully reflect the events going on around the late 1900's.  To both speakers, racism was seen as the biggest problem when it comes to being a successful democratic society.  If racism is prevalent, the minority does not have a voice in anything, defeating all that democracy stands for.  King and West both talk about poverty and give ways to get rid of the problem.  Each speaker suggests that the rich help out and give resources to the poor or lower class, providing the lower class with the opportunity to build and grow.  Without resources, the poor will continue to stay poor and not be able to live comfortably in the most powerful nation.  West's empathy approach sums up both of their arguments in regards to poverty within democracy.  And lastly West and King both believe a democratic society will fail with both racism and poverty still present.  Both agree that there is no hope for this type of society if Americans do not try to move on from the past and make changes within the US. Within "A World House" and "The Moral Obligations of Living in a Democratic Society", the argument of moving away from poverty and racism in a democratic society is prevalent to the late 1900's. 

