LAD #26

King begins by providing background of the long issue of discrimination: he speaks of the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, and how it had seemingly made Negroes equal. But he then points out that a hundred years later, matters have not improved and the African Americans are still brutally mistreated, which has caused the need for this gathering in Washington. He then goes on to compare the gathering to cashing a check; meaning that all Americans, white or black, were intended to have the rights stated in the Declaration of Independence, and now the blacks had come to receive those rights. From there, he emphasizes how important it is for the U.S to act NOW- not gradually work their way into making laws for justice. As King points out, there would be no peace nor tranquility in America until justice had been given. He then implores his fellow African Americans to always fight physical force with soul force, for an increase of violence would not solve the issues. He also says that they must not distrust the whites, as they are beginning to realize that the two races need each other. From here, he goes into the "I have a dream!" section of the speech, in which he states the ideals of a country that will one day be truly just and free. He finishes by whipping the crowd into a frenzy by repeatedly saying "Let freedom ring" and says once again that the entire country will someday be together.