The vision of "I Have a Dream" goes beyond the scope of the Civil Rights Movement—this speech can be applied toward many fights to end racism and inequality. That's probably why the speech has stood the test of time.
The speech calls for permanent changes in order to make America "great" (20.1). This idea is rooted in the belief that America's history is flawed and checkered, that the nation isn't the shining city on a hill that it set out to be. For MLK, the persistent legacy of slavery and discrimination had to be resolved for the long term, even throughout the South.
Questions About Visions of America
- If Martin Luther King, Jr. were alive today, do you think he would be satisfied with the state of American politics and social relations?
- The vision laid out in "I Have a Dream" is both general and ambitious. Do you think it's attainable in reality?
- Do you think America was already a "great" nation in the 1960s, with its history of racism? What about now—how "great" is the country?
- For regions/states with a history of slavery and/or racism, what do you think it takes to create positive change?
Chew on This
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s vision of America foresaw a continuous, and peaceful, struggle toward a more perfect union.
"I Have a Dream" actually focused its message on the parts of America with the most racial problems.