Giving homage to Lincoln and his Gettysburg Address, King delivered a masterpiece of rhetoric that enlivened over 250,000 civil rights supporters by the Lincoln Memorial.
During these turbulent times, if tomorrow we were to awake and find that 360,222 Americans laid down their lives and died in support of this very cause we are fighting for today, the cause that advances the truth that ALL people are created equal, and that we ALL have certain rights that cannot be taken away, rights such as, our right to live, our right to be free, our right to safety and, our right to search for our personal happiness, would we be thankful for such a sacrifice? Would we be thankful for such a sacrifice if all 360,222 of these Americans gave their lives for the freedom of Black Americans and they did so, fighting under the flag of the United States of America?
These words are as essential now as they were 157 years ago. “It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they have, thus far, so nobly carried on. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom; and that this government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” – Abraham Lincoln, November 19, 1863.
Slavery (human rights) played the central role during the American Civil War from April 12, 1861 – April 9, 1865. During that time, history tells us that 360,222 Union soldiers made up of White soldiers, Black soldiers, Hispanic soldiers, and American Indian soldiers paid the ultimate price for Black Americans that did not have the same liberties as white people. Those 360,222 Union soldiers fought for justice and peace and DIED under “Our” National Flag.
Today, it is perfectly clear that we, as a free nation have a way to go and that we have, “unfinished work which they have, thus far, so nobly carried on.” There is only one race, the human race and if there is one thing that should unite ALL Americans, it is the Flag of these United States of America. We must ALL confirm, “that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.” Let the colors of the American Flag represent our struggle. Let the red symbolize toughness and courage, let the white symbolize decency and innocence, and let the blue represent vigilance, perseverance, and justice for us ALL.