What is significant about the date each seminal document was written?
One hundred years after Lincoln’s speech, King wonders why America’s Black citizens still do not have rights equal to white citizens.
King intentionally wrote his letter one hundred years after Lincoln’s speech to draw attention to the ongoing injustices Black citizens faced.
Lincoln’s speech and King’s letter were written the same year, but in different states, bringing attention to the widespread issue of racism in America.
Even though they deal with similar themes, Lincoln’s speech and King’s letter are otherwise unrelated because they were written so far apart.
1 answer
The significance of the dates both Lincoln's speech (1863) and King's letter (1963) were written lies in the fact that they were both written exactly 100 years apart. This timing highlights the ongoing struggle for civil rights and equality for Black Americans in the United States throughout history. By writing his letter on the anniversary of Lincoln's speech, King was emphasizing the fact that despite progress being made over the years, there were still significant inequalities and injustices that needed to be addressed. This parallel in timing underscores the continued relevance of the fight for racial equality and justice in America.