Lyndon B. Johnson- “We Shall Overcome”
I really like how Johnson begins his speech: “I speak tonight for the dignity of man and the destiny of Democracy. I urge every member of both parties, Americans of all religions and of all colors, from every section of this country, to join me in that cause.” I like how he doesn’t exclude anyone, he urges all people of all colors religions to join him. It shows that he truly is a man who wants a true Democracy.
“But there is cause for hope and for faith in our Democracy in what is happening here tonight.”—I also like how he does not put down the democracy as it is; he could have easily mentioned many things that he thought the democracy was doing but he didn’t he just said there was hope, and the whole point of their meeting that night is to show they have hope and try to make a difference to make the democracy change. Since he is the president, this shows that he wants to and will have some power to start changing the democracy.
“This dignity cannot be found in a man's possessions. It cannot be found in his power or in his position. It really rests on his right to be treated as a man equal in opportunity to all others. It says that he shall share in freedom. He shall choose his leaders, educate his children, provide for his family according to his ability and his merits as a human being.” I really like this point because he is saying that they as a nation are fighting for their dignity. Blacks were just fighting to be like the whites, to have the simple rights that they should’ve had. Many whites already had their dignity and it was time for every person of the U.S to have their own dignity.
I think the main point of the speech is to give black people the right to vote. “The Constitution says that no person shall be kept from voting because of his race or his color.” Though getting the right to vote seems like a small start it was a huge step at the time. It was the first step to making blacks truly equal to whites. Johnson’s speech was very convincing and I think it definitely served its purpose.
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