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Keeynisha Yearwood
Dr. K. L. Hall
ENG 102-1293
10 November 2016
“I Have A Dream” Summary
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was an Atlanta, Georgia native. Born to a Reverend and First
Lady, Dr. King grew up to earn his doctorate in systematic theology from Boston University in
1955. He became a paramount member of the Civil Rights movement taking place in the
mid-1900’s. Segregation during this period kept black Americans from experiencing the same
opportunities as white Americans. The effects of such were weighing on the black community as
they were being unjustly incarcerated, discriminated against, and even killed. Dr. King’s “I Have
A Dream Speech” was delivered on August 28th, 1963 in Washington, D.C. at the Lincoln
Memorial. A vast crowd made up of both black and white Americans gathered that day. All were
brought together with a common goal in mind: to secure the blessings of liberty for all
Americans no matter their race.
Dr. King began his riveting speech addressing the hardships of the past. He wanted no
one to forget how far they have come. He also wanted no one to forget how far they had to go.
He spoke of the new challenges Blacks were facing. Challenges that the countries fore fathers
didn’t intend for Americans to have to go through. He cited the great documents of America that

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further proved his statement. Adding that Blacks shouldn’t be excluded from those rights and
freedoms. Especially, when Whites were not.
Dr. King sent out a call to action. He wanted no one to rest on such a serious issue
plaguing the nation. The Black community had sat quietly through the injustices done to them for
far too long. He warned everyone who countered the movement that the protesters won’t stop
until they have cooperated. However, he urged that any actions taken were for peace.
Acknowledging that even though there was a long and difficult journey ahead, no lives needed to
be lost in the process. Dr. King asked that, even though White supremacy may have made all
Whites look like the enemy at this time, Blacks do not treat them all as such. He pointed out that
some Whites were allies in the fight for freedom.
Dr. King made sure to highlight the fact that many protesters had already been through so
much. There were ones who were quietly on the brink of giving up altogether. He encouraged
those people to not give up. A clear outline of what they will no longer accept as citizens of the
United States was made. There was to be peace and freedom on every corner of American. No
longer were exceptions to be made based on the tone of their skin. Decisions of merit were to be
made solely on who they were as a person. Protesters, both Black and White, were given a
glimpse into what it will be like when they have finally reached their goal.

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Work Cited
“Martin Luther King Jr. Biography.” Bio.com, A&E Networks Television, 6 Nov. 2016,
www.biography.com/people/martin-luther-king-jr-9365086.
Soniak, Matt. “In What Field Was Martin Luther King, Jr. a Doctor?” Mental Floss, 20 Jan.
2013, mentalfloss.com/article/33559/what-field-was-martin-luther-king-jr-doctor.
VanderMey, Randall et al. “I Have a Dream.” The College Writer Brief: a Guide to Thinking,
Writing and Researching, King, 1963, pp 334-337.