【文章內(nèi)容簡介】
s of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have e here today to dramatize an appalling condition. In a sense we have e to our nationamp。39。s capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check which has e back marked amp。quot。insufficient funds.amp。quot。 But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have e to cash this check a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also e to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or