Joshua Chopra

Professor Hellmers

ENG 1201 Online

Revised 4 May 2017

Obama, Barack. "The Fiftieth Anniversary of the March on Washington." Lincoln Memorial. 28

August 2013

As Barack Obama explains in his speech on, The Fiftieth Anniversary of the March on

Washington the King family has inspired and sacrificed a great deal to this country in order to

promote racial equality. Obama explains how there have been segregated schools and lunch

counters, couples who were restricted from loving each other, and violent atrocities occurring all

due to racial conflicts. He states that African Americans did not oppose unjust laws, and jail

sentences, they simply took them and symbolized that freedom is won through a struggle of

perseverance, and discipline.

Obama speaks of how African Americans proudly paraded through their neighborhoods

through all the boycotts and marches, even up to time of a loss of life for four young girls in

Birmingham, Alabama. As Obama mentions, African Americans never gave up, and held their

head high and would not let their dignity be stepped on. Because of that self perseverance, and

striving for justice, America did indeed change for the better. Due to the marches, the nonviolent

protests, and the lobbying, African Americans were granted equal opportunity and education.

As Obama says, America changed for you, and me. As mentioned, from this example of

heart and diligence from the African American people, the rest of the world took this as an
example to fight back against unjust civil rights law and not settle for inequality. As Obama

stated, the people in South America took confidence and motivation from the actions of the

African Americans and revolted against apartheid ruling. The South Africans also succeeded, just

like the African Americans because they were dedicated, and would stop at nothing, to ensure

that equality was granted to the people. Obama also mentions the white students who went and

threw their lives on the line to protest and join marches for civil rights, and how we as

Americans, owe them for them deeds.

Because of the respectable actions taken by African Americans and others who joined the

movement, we now all sit alongside each other and love one another. We dont judge based on

color of skin, or ethnicity, or place of birth. We take for granted that everybody is equal, and that

we are able to learn together, walk equally, and fight together for our country and our children.

Obama speaks of how some may disregard the huge progress we have made as a country, and

minimize the positive steps we have taken. This directly discourages and dishonors all the hard

work, the sacrifice, and the lives lost, in this entire movement.

Obama speaks of how we as a country will inadvertently face occasional setbacks, but

this is simply a speed bump, not a road block. Our country has come too far to lose such types of

fights, and the country has changed far too much to revert back to old, corrupted ways. As

Obama mentions, Lincoln understood the Declaration of Independence, and as a promise in due

time, the weights should be lifted off the shoulders of all men, and in short, everybody should be

granted an equal chance at life. Obama refers to Dr. King describing the American dream of

equality, along with equal economic opportunity. He speaks of Dr. Kings interpretation of the

goals of African Americans in that their goals were the same as any other race. They simply

wanted fair working conditions, decent wages, affordable housing, security at retirement, health
and welfare systems, and wanted to grow as families and pass their lineage on to their children

who would be provided education, and respect.

This dream that African Americans had is universal, and not confined just to one

race of people. As Obama mentions, there have been successes within black America that people

would not even fathom a half century ago. Unfortunately, though, black unemployment has

remained about twice as high as white unemployment, and the economic wealth gap has only

grown, not lessened. Obama speaks of Bill Clintons indication that the position of all working

Americans regardless of race and color has eroded, which has furthermore made Dr. Kings

dream more difficult to achieve. Corporate businesses may succeed and prosper, but at the

expense of the poor, and weak.

Globalization and technology have taken jobs away from the middle class, and have not

helped the typical American workers. Our politics are suffering as well, due to those with hidden

agendas. Officials who convince middle class Americans of unjust lies for their own motives and

blame the government for economic insecurity. Racial politics has divided, and cut our country

in pieces and it is the reason our country has lost hope and remained divided to an extent. As

Obama says, the March on Washington teaches us to not get trapped by our past mistakes, and

we hold the key to our fate. As Obama says, we need to reignite our empathy that we had 50

years ago, and we need to stay on the road of equality, and courage. We need to dare to dream

different and imagine better, even if we dont face the same dangers and issues as 1963. As

Obama describes, the fierce urgency is still imminent, and we need to fight to make our country

better and devote our lives to the overall betterment of our country. Workers, veterans, mothers,

fathers, and all people alike must come together for the common goal of marching towards our

countrys success.
 Works Cited

Obama, Barack. "The Fiftieth Anniversary of the March on Washington." Lincoln Memorial. 28

August 2013. Speech.