Monday, November 25, 2019

The Great Dream of a Great Person

The Great Dream of a Great Person Free Online Research Papers On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his infamous I Have a Dream speech that forever changed Americas perception of the black people. Up until then, the blacks were segregated in almost every aspect of life and had very few rights. It can be said today, some 35 years after his death that King was truly one of the greatest black activists in history who helped shape the lives of every black person in America. This speech by King was the pinnacle moment of his movement. He was already well-known by the whole country before this speech for his involvement with racial discrimination. His beginning as a national figure began when he was named president of the Montgomery Improvement Association, an organization that directed a bus boycott. The black people were not happy that they had to give up their seats to white people, prompting the bus boycott. After taking this issue to court in 1956, the Supreme Court upheld a lower court decision, which ordered that buses needed to be desegregated. King also helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957, a group aimed at ending racial segregation. He was in charge of leading marches, boycotts, and demonstrations. Through this, he was also able to make strategic alliances with whites that later helped him influence the public opinion in the United States. It is very clear, through his actions and involvement, that King was a very informed man who had more than enough expertise and credibility to give this speech to over 200,000 people. This speech was directed to every person in the United States. It was geared mostly towards the white population which did not treat the black population with respect. To the black people, King told them to fight this struggle with dignity and discipline. He did not want them to use violence in order to get their point across. By looking at the large audience of white people in the crowd, King realized that progress was already being made. He urged the blacks to trust their white brothers who have seen that all men deserve the same amount of respect, no matter what their skin color may be. The white population was given a different message. King said that the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence was a promise note to all men that they would be guaranteed the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. White America, until now, had not followed through on this promise note. King compared this promise note to the blacks as a bank check which was returned due to insufficient funds. He said, We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. The time was now to cash this check. The black oppressors needed to realize that the black people had the same rights as the white people. Kings dream, from the speech, was to see a united country. He wanted to see this nation live up to its creed that all men are created equal, where the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood. Ultimately, King wanted to see a free country for all, free from any segregation or oppression towards the black population. Until all people were treated equally, King, and the rest of the blacks, could never be satisfied. By having slavery completely abolished, removing segregation, and giving voting to all citizens of the country, King would become a very happy satisfied man. Three decades later, we can more clearly see the great impact that this speech had on all of America. Black people have never had more rights than they do today. Slavery and segregation has been removed. Also, black people have been given the permission to vote. Blacks have just as many rights as whites do now. With all this said, the racial discrimination problem has not been completely solved. However, there still remains racial discrimination in many aspects of life. Typically, a white person will make more money than a black person for the same job. Also, more often than not, a white person will most likely get a job over a black person. Recently in the NFL, a rule had to be made that every time there is a head coac hing position, the teams have to interview at least one black candidate. Black people are considered to not be as smart as white people who are why the discrimination still exists. Currently, there are only one or two black head coaches in the NFL out of 30, a very low and unfair number. Overall, King would be happy with the progress that has been made as a result of his speech, but would feel that there is still a ways to go. If it was not for that speech, the blacks might have been in the same situation today as they were back then. This speech has been priceless in terms of uniting this great country of ours. Research Papers on The Great Dream of a Great PersonComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoWhere Wild and West Meet19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionCapital PunishmentBringing Democracy to AfricaQuebec and CanadaCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 Europe

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Europe After the Fall of the Roman Empire 400-600 AD Essay

Europe After the Fall of the Roman Empire 400-600 AD - Essay Example The western side of the Roman Empire, that is Europe, became a part of the Roman Empire under its strong military power. The extension of the land was fully made by the emperor Trajan in the second century. All the countries near to the Mediterranean Sea came under Rome. Rome had started to rule Britain even from 55 B.C. From Britain in the Western side, the Roman Empire had kept all the European countries under its rule. From 3rd century onwards the supremacy of Rome came down due to various reasons. The Germanic people had settled on the borders of Rome years ago and by the fourth century their hold was so powerful. â€Å"By the end of the fourth century, however, the relationship between the Romans and the Germans began to change radically as a great influx of Visigoths swept toward the Western frontiers of the empire† (American Book Works Corporation 81). In A.D. 476, Rome finally fell to the hands of these barbarian people. The last emperor Romulus Augustus, a boy had to surrender before the Germanic king Odoacer. Rome witnessed the independent rule of Odoacer for a few years. After the fall of Rome, it influenced with its rich tradition on the construction of new kingdoms in Europe. The essay analyzes how the Roman tradition worked as a strong influence on the later kingdoms of Europe after the fall of Rome in A.D. 476. Europe witnessed the rule of different kings after the Roman fall. Theodoric, a general who is not in the Roman tradition defeated Odoacer and established his kingdom named Ostrogothic kingdom. They were not ready to reshuffle everything of Roman tradition rather they followed what was Roman. It is said, â€Å"He built legitimacy for his new state by preserving traditional Roman institutions, especially the Senate and the office of consul† (The transformation of the Roman Empire 223) Further it is seen that he had followed the policy of Constantine on religious toleration. The next ruler of the Europe was Franks. They have se ttled the country to what is now called as France. The leader of Franks, Clovis became the emperor in A.D. 507. Clovis’s dynasty ruled for 200 years. It was named Merovingian dynasty, taking up â€Å"the legendary Frankish ancestor Merovech† (The transformation of the Roman Empire 224). The Merovingian dynasty had taken many of the Roman traditions in its rule. Their state combined â€Å"barbarian military might with Roman social and legal traditions† (The transformation of the Roman Empire 224). Almost all rulers had taken the noble aspects of Roman culture when they ascended into power. Visigoth king Athaulf who ruled during the period from 410 -415 A.D. explained the goals of his ruling strategy as â€Å"reviving the Roman name with Gothic strength† (The transformation of the Roman Empire 223). It was the intention of many of the new emperors to restore the Roman law and culture. So, after the fall of Rome, the Roman laws got much prominence among the new rulers. They wrote the legal codes of Rome and practiced in their countries. The practice of fining was another landmark of the Roman tradition in the new kingdoms. The penalties were incurred to the law offenders and the majority of it would go to the nearest relative of the person affected. After the fall of Rome, there developed a Gallo- Roman culture and language. When most part of Gaul came under the rule Merovingian kings, the amalgamation of Roman