Martin Luther King's Speech I Have a Dream (Essay Example)

Martin Luther King Junior was an influential advocist combating the racial injustices committed by the American nation in the 60’s. In his famous speech “I Have a Dream,” King calls out America upon the issue of how the country has not lived up to its promise of liberty and justice for all; even though legally the black community has equal rights, in reality, the treatment of the black population has not changed. Today, King's words are just as true. Minorities, especially black people, are shunned and discriminated against, even with the legal action taken. The modern American nation still discriminates against and treats black people just as it had during and before King’s time; through economic injustices, social outcasting, and discriminatory prejudices, America limits opportunities for a successful and content life for the black community. 

Firstly, King’s observation about America’s unjust racial wealth gap still resonates today; the staggering capital disparities between black and white households that isolated the black community in the 60s are persistently exiling black individuals into the corners of American society in the present day. Although diversity and equality are pushed for in today’s world, the wealth gap that stood generations ago is standing today due to racism being built into the nation’s economy. For instance, financial hemorrhaging within the broader black population is clear within America’s racial gerrymandering; by spreading minorities across districts, African Americans are not only deprived of political power, but are also succumbed to low income neighborhoods (Source C). The effects of racial gerrymandering continuing for decades are obvious in today’s nation: the black population has the second highest poverty rate right next to native Americans, over a quarter of the black population are living under the poverty line, and nearly half (45%) of poor black children live in concentrated poverty neighborhoods. Plus, not only are there wage gaps between white and black communities, but there are also immense wage gaps between black men and women; black men earn less than $38,000 a year while black women earn a little over $33,000 (Source C). The unjust power dynamics in American society has put the black population at an economic disadvantage, and has been putting the black community at a disadvantage since King’s time. In the past, King called out to the nation to take action against the injustices against African Americans in his letter from Birmingham Jail: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (King). Now, his words still stand, for the whole nation has the responsibility to combat injustices. Furthermore, as a result of black individuals being incarcerated at 5 times the rate of whites, African Americans are constantly challenged with poverty and unemployment, thus basically guaranteeing a life of poor quality (Source E). Legally, it is true that minorities have more rights and opportunities now than in King’s time; but in reality, racism still limits African Americans just the same by purposely shutting down opportunities for success. Undeniably, King’s claim about how the black community is forced into poverty while white society is granted prosperity is very true in modern America. 

Not only does King’s claim about how America economically exiles the black community still stand, but his claim about how the nation's black population is isolated socially does as well. For instance, a black man can simply walk into a store and have a dangerous Doberman straining at the end of a leash ready to attack him, even though he has done nothing wrong. Stereotypes about black individuals being criminals or dangerous mentally limits African Americans too, especially if they are young with influential brains. As a result of racist stereotypes, black individuals have to change themselves to appear less threatening to the white eye in order to keep themselves safe. Though the black people themselves are the victims in such situations, society has manipulated their minds to believe they are the predators; thus, black individuals have to learn to smother their rage over the acts of blatant racism (Staples, 197). Evidently, a constant inner battle within one’s mind about their own color of their skin has detrimental effects on self-worth and confidence. Furthermore, Harvey Milk, an influential politician in the 70’s, claimed in his “The Hope” speech that “once you have dialogue starting, you know you can break down prejudice” (Milk). In order to reach people’s minds, the nation must challenge racist stereotypes and actually talk about the issue at hand. Then, real progress will be made. Legal action cannot change the way society thinks, addressing the prejudices is how to truly attain justice and equality for all. Obviously, prejudices that have been in place since the 60s still mentally and physically banish America’s black population into isolation since the majority of the nation chooses to stay silent about the issue. 

Lastly, even hundreds of years later, segregation and its disadvantages are still familiar politically for the black community in America.  In the 1960s, “explicit racism fell out of political favor,” however, “it never disappeared -- as late as the 1990s, prominent candidates were race-baiting their opponents” (Source E). Recent electrons prove this claim to be true; for instance, former president Trump’s campaign and election. One might think that racist campaigns would not have support; however, this thought is anything but true. In the present day, Trump has run “the most unapologetically racist and nativist campaign since George Wallace,” and, like “Wallace before him, it’s been successful” (Source E). Simply put, racist campaigns have been successful over the years because voters themselves “hold racial and cultural resentments” towards the black community (Source E). And after viewing the effects of recent presidential elections, “Trump has discovered something we all like to deny: That in the 21st century, the racist vote is larger, louder, and more influential than we ever thought” (Source E). America has undoubtedly been politically oppressing the black community even though black individuals legally have the same rights as the white population. Plus, since legal action has already taken place, the government cannot change any laws to prevent discrimination. Laws do not stop racism. The Emancipation Proclamation did not truly equal freedom for the black population. And unless the embedded racism in people’s minds and in America's campaigns is changed, then political equality for black individuals will never be achieved.  

Clearly, the Emancipation Proclamation did nothing to improve the lives of the black population economically, socially, and politically in today’s America. Although the years have passed, times have not changed; the black community is still isolated and discriminated against just the same. Perhaps, the nation should focus on changing white society’s prejudiced thoughts instead of changing black individuals’ rights on paper.