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Home > Scholarship > THE_HISTORIES > Vol. 3 (2016) > Iss. 1

 

The Histories

Abstract

“Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!” These are the stirring words spoken by Martin Luther King as he ended his famous speech, “I Have A Dream”, during the March on Washington to stress the need for equality and freedom. “I Have a Dream” is the most famous piece of the March on Washington protest as described by David Garrow, the author of “King the March the Man the Dream” article. Garrow states that King’s “I Have a Dream” speech was initially forgotten during the Civil Rights Movement yet is not only remembered now, but also memorialized by all. This occurred due to a series of both positive and negative events that occurred immediately following March On Washington. The success of the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, coupled with the racial tension and violence that broke out afterward, made people forget the significance of the speech. However, 50 years later, King’s speech is now considered to be one of the greatest speeches of the twentieth century. Garrow focuses on not only King’s but also other civil rights leaders’ peaceful approach to March on Washington, as well as President Kennedy’s remarkable address to announce the civil rights bill. King was deeply impressed by the Kennedy address and made sure there was no concern about disciplinary problems at this protest.

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