The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence promised equality. Equality is supposed to be synonymous with America. In reality, however, the drive toward equality has been a continuing effort throughout this country's entire existence.
To start with, slavery was the norm in 1776 and continued for almost a hundred years. A hundred years after the Civil War, segregation and discrimination still lurked like predators. Nowadays, gaps in economic prosperity and education mean that people are still "unequal." In that sense, "I Have a Dream" is just as relevant today.
Questions About Equality
- What does "equality" really mean? Can all people really be equal in a practical sense?
- What role should the federal government take in enforcing and instituting equality in America?
- Are the different ethnicities in modern day America really equal, or does inequality still exist?
- Can people be equal if they are separated, or segmented off, to different corners of society?
Chew on This
Americans have always disagreed on the definition of equality—specifically, whether basic equality under the law amounts to total equality in real life.
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speech is about legal equality, economic equality, and social equality.