Compare And Contrast Segregation Forever And Martin Luther King Speech

Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech may have many differences with George Wallace’s “Segregation Now, Segregation Forever” speech but they share some similarities as well. They both share a need for freedom. One wants freedom from segregation and the other wants freedom from being told what to do. Also they discuss religion and what it means for them. One uses it as slander and the other uses it to promote peace among people. Insert third point. Commentate here. Comparing and contrasting both speeches will show how alike and dislike both are.

Martin Luther King, Jr. and George Wallace both want their freedom. They both want freedom from what has been oppressing them. They also believe that everyone should have this freedom. That

is where the similarities end, because what is oppressing them is different for both. Martin Luther King, Jr. wants to put an end to segregation. He wants every African American to be free from this and to be treated as equals. In his speech when talking about the Declaration of Independence he states, “This note was a promise that all men-yes , black men as well as white men-would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” George Wallace’s freedom, on the other hand, is not to be told what to do. Wallace believes that the federal government putting an end to segregation is taking away the states rights. He thinks that by doing this the federal government will keep gaining power and will begin to control them. So he wants segregation to continue so that the states can decide what to do, and keep their rights and freedom. Wallace says, “This nation was never meant to be a unit of one… but a united of the many…. That is the exact reason our freedom loving forefathers established the states, so as to divide the rights and powers among the states, insuring that no central power could gain master government control.”
Both speeches also make a point about religion and how it is used.

Both men believe that religion is very important and it plays an important role in what they want. They also refer to religion is some way, many times throughout their speeches. Though the comparison ends with Wallace believing it is being used against people, and King using it to unite people. Wallace thinks that people are losing their faith out of fear of the government, he declares “…then this government must assume more and more police powers and we are becoming government-fearing people…not God-fearing people.” He also thinks the government is trying to play God and rule over people. He states that that have no faith in God, yet they try to assume God’s role, and the system is the opposite of Christ. On the flipside Martin Luther King, Jr. uses religion to unite, sometimes even saying God’s children instead of everyone to bring people closer. King says, “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.” He also speaks of having faith that things will change. He tells everyone to hold tight to their faith and they will overcome. At one point he states, “With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of

hope.”
While both essays have very different meanings they do share a few points. They share points about freedom, religion and third point. Though the two differ in how said points are used in their speeches, one trying to unite, and the other trying to separate. By comparing and contrasting it was shown how alike and dislike they both are.