Dream Big Essay Contest Matthew Gump Grade 9 Age 14 Landstown High School 2001 Concert Drive, Virginia

Beach, VA (757)-648-5500 Holy Spirit Catholic Church

Dream Big Essay

Equality may perhaps be a right, but no power on Earth can ever turn it into a fact, Honore de Belzac. As of recent times, the Planet Earth has experienced a series of movements to close the gap in these treatments, with the biggest and most influential being the Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Movement is most associated and encompassed within the I Have a Dream speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a speech that is still important and relevant on all levels ranging from political to personal in ways both positive and negative. In 1896, the Separate but Equal Doctrine was enacted. This doctrine, stemming from the Plessy v. Ferguson decision, allowed for racial segregation under the premise that both colored and white facilities be of equal quality. Since racial segregation was no longer in violation of the fourteenth amendment many states quickly created a series of laws known as the Jim Crow laws which were designed to make black people lesser by law. This, combined with already rampant racism, is what led to the Civil Rights Movement. The I Have a Dream speech was made towards the end of the movement and was effectively one of the final and best struck nails in the figurative coffin of racial segregation. The speech instantly become an iconic symbol for equality and the simple quote of I have a dream that was repeated towards the end of the speech instantly ignites thoughts of Martin Luther King Jr., the Civil Rights Movement and the era of segregation. However, its importance was not spawned simply through the eloquent words and power of the speech, but also through the audience. This audience was a mix between both white and black people, a sight never before seen by many. To see so many people together, standing as equals, and working together for a single cause was inspiring enough to

change the entire mindset of some people. This change sealed the deal for the Civil Rights Movement and resulted in the abolishment of segregation in the United States. Today, the speech still stands as a symbol of equality. While racism still exists, racial equality is a much more attainable goal as the current generations are raised in an environment free of hate and racism. Today, a major topic, similar to the Civil Right Movement, is a push for better class equality or a way to bridge the gap between poverty and the middle class. However it seems that, a lot of people have been thinking about race, but I always remind people that [The Civil Rights Movement] was a march for jobs and justice was said by Barack Obama during an interview with the New York Times when prompted on whether or not he would be doing anything for the 50th anniversary of the speech. Jobs and money have been causes of inequality for a long time now. The Civil Rights Movement was seen also as a movement for the representation of the working class in government since politics was generally ruled by the wallet, a problem not yet resolved. Today it is representative of income inequality, similar to what the president was most likely referencing in his interview. In fact, since the late 1970s income inequality has reached a point where the top 1 percent is seeing income growth more that four times as large as any other group[1]. This shows that so long as inequality is alive, which will likely be forever, this speech will be a glorious symbol to utilize. I, personally, have my own dreams. My dreams are a little bit less selfless and inspiring but are nonetheless my own. In the future I want to produce, perform or score music, but if I could have it just how I wanted it, it would be to score music and work audio for Shaft or Kyoto animations. However, to get there I will need to break a barrier, to go into a Japanese dominated field, as a Filipino-American, and get past the idea that the job is best done by a native. The speech helps me to realize that as time goes on equality will become more and more visible

around the world and maybe be partially achieved by the time my dream is in my sights. The speech is also relevant to me as an inspiration that helps me to realize that working hard with passion and persistence can get you to any goal you aim for, and even in the case you miss, the work will land you somewhere nice. Now, although equality on Earth is fictitious, it is necessary to understand that each leap and bound that was fueled by this speech is a leap of progress. And with each leap the world improves. Though we might only make it 99.9%, rounding it up is just as good as perfection. 99 or 100, either is just as meaningful and powerful to those who worked for it.

[1]: Congressional Budget Office, Average Federal Taxes by Income Group, Average AfterTax Household Income, June, 2010.