Barry Omatsu HILD 7A 7 March 2013 The Power of an Idea In Martin Luther King Jr.s Where Do We Go From Here?

he gives a very motivational, and descriptive speech concerning how Black people should be able to make their lives better politically, economically, and socially than where they are currently. He wants his audience and essentially all Black people to follow his thought process and realize that his visions for the future are a real possibility. By developing an unassailable and majestic sense of values, MLK asks that all Blacks part-take in this demand for change within society. As with any good speech, I found this particular speech to be very powerful because it slowly develops from basic examples and concepts, to providing his own ideology and advice on improving Black peoples current situation, to eventually sparking the audiences emotions with powerful statements utilizing the royal we to emphasize the unity and togetherness of the community at large. In the speech MLK says: No Lincolnian Emancipation Proclamation, no Johnsonian civil rights bill can totally bring this kind of freedom. The Negro will only be free when he reaches down to the inner depths of his own being and signs with the pen and ink of assertive manhood his own emancipation proclamation. I found that particular part of the speech very intriguing and moving since MLK understands that no amount of laws the government enacts can truly better the situation for Blacks in a society where slavery and racism have been rampant for the past 244 years. The only sure-fire way to improve their livelihood is to grasp it with their own two hands, and say to himself and to the world, I am somebody. These statements show that MLK had the intellect and the amazing ability to express his ideas in

a manner that evokes the emotions of the audience and forces them to question their doubts and current beliefs. In reading his speech, I felt a great sense of organization and wisdom coming from MLKs words, which then lead me to believe in his ideas for widespread change all the more. Another section that I thought to be of great importance was when MLK cited the bible and the situation with Nicodemus. The quotes Your whole structure must be changed and What Im saying today is that we must go from this convention and say, America, you must be born again! demonstrate a sense of emotion which truly moves the listener or reader. Since the church congregation had such a major role in Black unity and nationalism, citing the bible made MLKs arguments all the more powerful and meaningful. Additionally, I thought his scripture story to be highly relevant to Americas current situation, furthermore, showing the ingenuity of MLK and his masterful way to convey his ideas and thoughts to an audience. Throughout his speech, not only does MLK just give the emotional motivation that Black people need, but he also provides concrete methods to obtain the sense of freedom and equality Blacks have always been striving for. For instance, in discussing how to solve the economic status of poor blacks in the inner cities of the North, he talks about transforming the poor to purchasers and developing new forms of work that enhance the social good. This further shows MLKs great intellect and his foresight for a future in which Blacks are finally, truly equal. How can MLK further use religion and the bible as a means to gain support amongst White, religious folk? How can we build off of MLKs ideas and apply them to modern day racism and inequality?