On Tuesday James’ speech therapist showed him a video of Martin Luther King giving his famous “I Have A Dream” speech. She did not tell him who it was or what it was about. This is the conversation they had after he viewed the video.
Who wrote this speech? MARTIN LUTHER KING
What is it about? CIVIL RIGHTS
“Let’s discuss some vocabulary from the speech.”
What are manacles? HANDCUFFS
What does poverty mean? WITHOUT MONEY
What does discrimination mean? TREATING PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY
“Five score years ago,” the opening phrase of King’s speech, is an allusion to Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Why was this an appropriate and strong way for King to begin his speech? HE IS TALKING ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF BLACK PEOPLE JUST LIKE LINCOLN.
“James, how many years are in a score?” TWENTY….“So, 5 score is…” HUNDRED
One hundred years later, what did King feel was still “crippling” black people? SEGREGATION
“I Have a Dream” was a persuasive speech meant to convey to King’s audience the need for change and encourage them to work for federal legislation to help end racial discrimination. If you had been in the crowd that day, do you think you would have been moved by King’s speech? Why or why not? I WOULD HAVE BEEN MOVED BY THIS SPEECH BECAUSE IT WAS SO PASSIONATE. I WAS STRUCK BY THE POWERFUL IMAGERY IN HIS WORDS. LIFE WITHOUT RIGHTS IS NOT BEAUTIFUL.
Has discrimination ever affected your life? I HAVE NOT BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE OF MY RACE BUT I HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST FOR MY DISABILITY. I HAVE BEEN TREATED LIKE I AM AN IDIOT. I HAVE BEEN KEPT FROM ACCESSING A NORMAL EDUCATION.
What is your dream? Is there something within your world that you would like to see changed or improved upon? MY CIVIL RIGHTS DREAM IS TO HAVE EQUALITY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION THAT OUR NONDISABLED PEERS RECEIVE. ONLY THEN WILL WE BE EQUAL.
Returning James 