question_answer

Read the following passage from a famous speech by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963. Which social division is he talking about? What are his aspirations and anxieties? Do you see a relationship between this speech and the incident in Mexico Olympics mentioned in this chapter? "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but, by the content of their character. Let freedom ring. And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring-when we let it ring from every village and ever hamlet, from ever state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children-black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles Protestants and Catholics - will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: 'Free at last!' Free at last Thank God Almighty, we are free at last! I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident  that all men are created equal."

Answer:

                Martin Luther King, Jr was the most famous leader of the American Civil Rights Movement. The given speech talks about the division between the Blacks and Whites in America. He aspires to see a world free of racial discrimination. He wished to see a world where everybody is treated equally, irrespective of caste, colour or creed. He dreamt of a world where equal opportunities were available to everyone and every society's social and economic interests were recognised and respected. The incident in Mexico Olympics does have a relationship with this speech. The incident was a clear expression of disgust against the policy of racial discrimination adopted in the United States. The two US Athletes - Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who had won the medals, wanted to draw the attention of the world towards racial discrimination in the United States. The third Athlete (the silver medallist), although a White man from Australia, who also was opposed to the policy of discrimination against the Blacks, wore a human rights badge on his shirt to show his support to the two Black American fellow players. They aimed to fight for equality in rights and opportunities for the Blacks and thus bring justice for them.