MOBILE, Ala. – On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial after a peaceful march in Washington to more than 250,000 Americans.
Dr. King is a symbol of hope and change around the world because of his leadership and intelligence throughout the civil rights movement. There are hundreds of people who contributed to the civil rights movement, but Dr. King’s sacrifices and actions catapulted the world in a direction of diversity and equality.
"It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment," he said. "There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges."
Dr. King inspired the entire nation to live up to its potential, ending his speech with the words: "From every mountainside, let freedom ring. And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, 'Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!'"
The "I Have a Dream" speech is a legendary part of the American Civil Rights Movement. In my opinion the speech was a message to the world that we all must understand the power of difference. For me, that means respecting and accepting others no matter their race, gender, age, or opinions especially minorities during the time of segregation in America.
In keeping with the legacy of Dr. King and all of those who contributed to the Civil Rights Movement, Americans from every walk of life celebrate where our country has come and where we are headed, a nation of peace, freedom, and diversity.
We are seeing less segregation and discrimination than before, but it’s still relevant in society today. I hope more people continue to break that concrete image of what they think race is and instead, be open to what race could be.
__________
With an area of operation across Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and northern Florida, and a vast military region that includes operations across Central and South America, the Mobile District’s award- winning teams of engineering, construction, regulatory and emergency management professionals are nationally recognized for their leadership in delivery of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ civil works and military programs missions to the Nation.
# # #