Reading Response #10

1/18/2016

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. day, we are going to examine a few lines of Dr. King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech, which he delivered on August 28, 1963 at the March on Washington. One of the most famous lines from his speech is:

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

To understand Dr. King's message, we must look at the implicit meaning (deeper meaning) of his words. Although he spoke of his four children to make his message sound personal, his words really extended to all people. He hoped that Americans would not judge others based on their race, but instead on whom they are as a person. When he said, "content of their character," he meant what is on the inside: personality, work ethic, intelligence, skills and abilities, and more. He said, "one day" because he knew that in order to achieve his vision, many Americans in his time would need to change the way they thought about people of color.

I've copied some other lines from Dr. King's speech below. Read them.

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.
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

This Week's Prompt:

Choose one of the sentences from MLK's speech listed above. Analyze (break apart, tell about the parts) what the sentence is about. You may need to look up some of the words. Explain (teach me, show me) the implicit meaning of Dr. King's words.

Also, tell why you think Dr. King chose those words and phrases to get his message across. I modeled how to do this above.

For those of you who would like to learn more about the amazing Dr. King:

Some background on Dr. King's speech: Time For Kids --Honoring King's Dream.
Read Dr. King's full speech at American Rhetoric.

17 Comments

Kate

1/19/2016 08:56:04 pm

Dear Mrs. Kimball,

I choose to do the second sentence. This is the second sentence,"I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood". I think that MlK was trying to get the message that everyone should come across there differences and get to no one another. I know this because the part "former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood" Writes that the slaves master and the slave should become buddies. What I think that MLK was trying to get across is that everyone should make the time to meet one another. I think this because the part "will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood" shows me that people should become friends no matter their differences.

Sinceraly, Kate

Anthony

1/20/2016 03:36:04 pm

Dear Ms. Kimball,

I choose do the second line of speech. MLK is saying, "one day," which means that it is going to be in the future and he doesn't necessarily know if it is going to happen, but he is highly positive of that. Then, he says, " the red hills of Georgia," and he is saying that it will take place on the red hills of Georgia. But the best part of the speech is that he says," the sons of former slaves and former slave owners will be able to sit down at the table of brotherhood.'' I think that he wants the slave owners to free the slaves so that one day they will be able to sit down at the table of brotherhood. In other words, he wants the slave owners to free the slaves so that they could get to know each other more and become buddies. I also think that MLK is trying to send a message across and the message is " you could make friends with the worst but be the best of friends."
Sincerely
Anthony

Trisha

1/20/2016 04:27:01 pm

Dear Class,
I am going to do sentence number 3. I think that when Dr.King says “one day even the state of Mississippi…” I think he means everywhere, everyone should have equal rights. Also when Dr.King says “ a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression” I think he means burning with the heat of injustice and oppression. I think so because the definition of sweltering is hot, burning. Lastly, when he “will be transformed into an oasis of freedom he uses the word oasis. Oasis means a fertile spot in the desert where water can be found, so I think what he means is will be transformed into a place where every human being is free.
Sincerely,
Trisha

Tommy

1/20/2016 04:38:01 pm

Dear class,

The quote I chose is;
"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."
When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said "I have a dream", I think he meant, he had a hope. I think he said "I have a dream" because, it sticks with you and gives more meaning to what he was trying to say. Also, when he said "that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of it's creed:", I believe he was saying he wishes people will use their hearts to think, to stand up together for what they believe in as a nation. Then, MLK said "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." I suspect he meant that we should believe that everyone should be treated the same no matter what color skin they had.

Ben

1/20/2016 05:34:18 pm

Dear class,
I chose the second speech. What I think it means is that Dr King was trying to have people have a good relationship. For example in the text it says "sons of former slave and sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. So what this means is that Dr King wants to sit down with the son that owned Kings father as a slave. So what I think that Dr Martin Luther King Jr is trying to get across is that no matter what skin color you are, you should make peace together.

Sincerely,
Ben

cordy

1/20/2016 06:04:55 pm

Dear Ms. Kimball,
I have chosen sentence number 3. I believe that it is soposto inspire us that even in the worst palses things can change. The first part of the sentence" I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi." I think that means that he is saying ' I have a hope'. The second part of the sentence is "a state sweltering with the heat of injustice." This means that Martin Luther King Jr. Is fighting for black and white people will be treated the same way. The thread part "sweltering with the heat of oppression." This means that The pain of people fighting agents you is not good. The final part is "will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice." Finally this mans that every thing can turn into a free, happy parricide for everyone.
Sincerely,
Cordy

Emily

1/20/2016 07:16:17 pm

Dear Ms. Kimball,
I chose the seconded speech. I think in the Speach Marten is asking everyone to like each other and care for each other. Also I think it means some day people with any different colors will be friends and like each other. Also in the text it says "I have a dream that one day," that means that one day he thinks his dream would come true.Lastley it says "Sit Together," I think Martens message is we would all get together, doesn't matter about the color or differences it's all becuase we are human.
Sincerely,
Emily

Julia

1/20/2016 08:33:54 pm

Dear class,
I chose the first sentence, "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." King is saying that "one day", the world will "rise up", meaning King wants everybody to unite and stand up for what they believe in. He wants all people, no matter what color they are, to help one and other through life. When King says, "the true meaning of its creed:" he is saying that he wants us all to think that we are equal to everyone else. He is saying that each and every one of us should respect each other for who we are.
Sincerely,
Julia

Elizabeth

1/21/2016 04:21:35 pm

Dear Class,
I chose the second sentence, I think Dr. Marten Luther King Jr. means that one day everyone will be treated equally. In the first part," I have a dream that one day," means that someday not necessarily today or tomorrow, but sometime in the future something great will happen. Next I think the part,"On the red hills of Georgia," Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is referring to the bloody battles that happened there, like the civil war. The south was fighting for slaves. Then I think,"The sons of former slaves and former slave owners," means that everyone will forget about the grudges or family ties, like slavery, and be nice to each other and treat each other with respect. The last part," Will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood," probably means that everyone will hopefully be treated respectfully and as if everyone will be loved as one would love a brother or a sister.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth

Liana

1/21/2016 04:53:35 pm

Dear 5k,
I chose sentence 2. I think that it means that everyone should be able to be friends and to be treated equally. Former slave owners and slaves should join hands along with everyone else. Black people should have the right to do everything white people are allowed to do. They should be be able to sit at a table of brotherhood where everyone is treated with equality. They should stand together and fight for freedom. Everyone is different and unique, and that's what makes them special.
Sincerely,
Liana

Whitney

1/21/2016 06:46:05 pm

Dear Ms.Kimball,
I chose the first paragraph,"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of it's creed: We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal,". I think that when he says "this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of it's creed" that means that Dr.King wants America to change their stupid ways of segregation and make America what it's supposed to be. When he says "We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal" I think this means that in the constitution it specifically states that "all men are created equal". So when Dr.King says it, I think that he means since it's specifically written in the constitution, we should live it out. Thanks!
Sincerely,
Whitney

Ryan

1/21/2016 06:46:31 pm

Dear Ms. Kimball,
I chose the second line in MLK's speech. "I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood." When MLK says "on the red hills", "red", refers to blood and the lives that were lost in the name of freedom. It also refers to the struggle and pain that they had. When MLK says "Georgia", he refers to the South where there were many slaves. Finally, when MLK says "the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood." This means that no matter if you are a slave or a slave owner you will be able to live life freely and equally. I think MLK chose these words because he believed in equality and wanted to encourage and inspire hope for the future. MLK had a dream for a better world.

Sincerely,
Ryan

August

1/21/2016 06:53:49 pm

Dear Class,

I chose number 2, Which is:

"I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood."

When King said "one day" I think he is talking about the future. When King said "the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood." I think he is saying, no matter what race you are you can sit together. Be friends. Or be married.

Sincerely,
August

Maggie

1/21/2016 07:01:32 pm

Dear 5K,
I chose the second quote, and I think that over all it means black and white people will one day be equal and friendly to each other. When it say's "on the red hills of Georgia" it really means everywhere. Also when it say's "sit together at the table of brotherhood" it means sit together as friends. Lastly when it says " and the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners" it is referring to black and white people. So over all it means one day black and white people will all teat each other equally and like friends.
From,
Maggie

Jansyn

1/21/2016 10:36:20 pm

Hi Ms.Kimball
I chose sentence number 1, " I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of it's creed:We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. I think what Dr King is saying is that he hopes that the country we live in will accept all people as equals and everyone gets treated the same no matter what it is. When Dr. King says, "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed" I think of the pledge of allegiance,"One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all" is what Americans stand by and Dr.King wanted people to stand up for what they believed in even if other people didn't.

DeAngi

1/22/2016 07:36:05 am

Dear class,

I chose the second line.
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. praised. " The red hills of Georgia" he actually meant the whole U.S.A and possibly the whole world. When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said "table of brotherhood, he doesn't mean "table of brotherhood. What it means is he wants to create a "peace treaty" between a slave and his master.

Sincerely,

DeAngi

Caitlin

1/22/2016 03:58:43 pm

Dear Class,
I picked the 2nd sentence of Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech. "I have a dream one day's the red hills of Georgia," that means that Dr Martin Luther King Jr. was trying to say was that maybe not today but one day everyone will be together. Also Dr Martin Luther King Jr. said on the red hills of Georgia I think he was referring to the bloody battles that happened. Also Dr Martin Luther King Jr. said, "The son of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together". I think that Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Was trying to say no matter what happen in the past that we can all be together because we are all equal. Also Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Said "at the table of brotherhood." I think King was trying to say that everyone will treat each other with love and we will all be friends and sit with each other at a table.
Sincerely,
Caitlin

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