Thursday 11th was a last day of fall classes at my school. Every end of semester the school celebrates and brings all students and staffs together to have some foods, music and talent shows.
This semester we have Black History Month Essay competition and the topic was:
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed. ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’…I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.”
Martin Luther King, Jr. articulated his dream almost fifty years ago. What was his vision for America? Has his dream come true?
In your essay, state in your own words what you feel was Martin Luther King’s dream. In what ways has his dream come true, and in what ways has his dream not come true. What changes are still needed? Please use details and examples from your own experience.
February, DC's snow storm. 2010The end of the celebration the school announced the essay’s winner’s prize as following:
- First Prize $50 plus got to choose two presents.
- Second Prize $25 plus got to choose one present.
- All the participators Got to choose a present.
DC's snow storm. February 2010
I took Elliott to my school party with me; he had such a great time. I have won the first prize! I allowed him to choose a present and he chosen an Army Robot, myself chosen a drawing book. And the money I donated to Haiti Earthquake project (In total we raised $304 for Haiti)
Below is my essay.
DC's snow storm. February 2010
Name: Kaknika Pon Date: 1st of March 2010
Topic: Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” Speech
Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was an American clergyman, activist and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968.
DC's snow storm. February 2010
Five years before his death, in 1963, Dr. King delivered a speech known today as the “I Have a Dream” speech which is especially remembered for the following: “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed. ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’…I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.”
DC's snow storm. February 2010
Reading Martin Luther King’s speech over and over again, I can tell that he was a person who passionately wanted to protect his nation and wished to make a difference for African-Americans in a very positive way. In his vision he wanted all people living in America to be in peace and share everything that they have without bothering about the color of their skin, only the abilities that they can provide. He worked hard to end racial segregation and racial discrimination, because he thought all people should treat each other with respect and equality.
With the power of positive action, his hard work, kindness and belief in himself, Dr. King attracted a lot of support from people in the United States who helped to make his dream come true. What makes me believe that his dream has come true? Looking back at America before the 1960s, America had a very high percentage of discrimination against African-American rights, such as voting, segregation (the separation between black and white people in daily life such as eating at restaurants, using different bathrooms, housing in different areas, attending different schools etc.), etc. What I can see today are a number of discriminatory practices that have been eliminated officially by U.S laws, and African-Americans having the same rights as all Americans.
Even though, there is still a small amount of discrimination for African-Americans remaining in some places today, it is different compared to the last fifty years.
Besides that, there were, and still are African-Americas employed in all kind of jobs and also involved in politics. On top of that, many of them have been noticed as important and recognizable people in the United States and its history. For example: Condoleezza Rice was the first female African-American Secretary of State and both Oprah Winfrey and Beyonce Knowles are recognizable in the U.S entertainment industry. Barack Obama is currently the President of the United States, and he’s the first black president in American history. By electing President Obama, Americans have shown the world that all type of discriminations in the United States can be eliminated, and anyone in the U.S can become anything she/he wants to be based on their character, and not just their skin color anymore. When Obama was elected as President in 2008 it was a big change in American history and it has raised public consciousness and brought Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream.” speech, which had been articulated for almost fifty years, alive again.
However, even though Dr. King’s dream has come true in many ways, there are still a lot of changes needed in the U.S for African-Americans. These include: providing better health care for African-Americans and their communities (good health care and affordable prices); providing more shelters for homeless people (every year there are between fifty to sixty homeless people who have died because of not having enough clothes to keep them warm and having no shelters to go to when the weather is too cold); and creating more education programs to educate African-Americans about eating and illnesses (heart attacks, diabetes).
However, I hope everyone in the U.S whether black or white; will keep dreaming about the changes that they want to see in this country and some day they will truly help each other to make his/her dream come true.
Peace.... :-)
