Lyndon B. Johnson's "We Shall Overcome" speech had many important points. The part of the speech that really stood out to me was the section about how we have been been fighting for equal rights for 100 years, and still it is lacking. The statement below is a quote directly from the speech that explains this:
"A century has passed--more than 100 years--since equality was promised, and yet the negro is not equal. A century has passed since the day of promise and the promise is unkept. The time of jusitce has now come, and I tell you that I believe sincerely that no force can hold it back." This statemtne goes on to say:
"How many white children have gone uneducated? How many white families have lived in stark poverty? How many white lives have been scarred in fear because we wasted energy and our substance to maintain the barriers of hatred and terror?"
I think this was an important piece because, it shows how long we have been fighting for equal rights, and even though today the United States says everyone has equal rights, there is still discrimination. I think this is an on going battle in this country and in other countries as well. Lyndon B. Johnson's speech I think opened many eyes about the ongoing problem we had then, and still have today. The link I have provided just tells a little about the civil rigths movement and what steps were taken. http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_Civil_Rights_Movement_(1955%E2%80%931968)
The quest for equal rights has produced some famous names that will be remembered for a lifetime. This shows how important this is to everybody.
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