Subject
Students Name
Institution of Affiliation
DateAfrican American Freedom: John F. Kennedy and John Lewis’ Speeches.
John F. Kennedy was a strong supporter of the civil rights for the African Americans. Various reasons can be derived from bot his speech on the civil rights act and the speech delivered by John Lewis during the march on Washington. From the introductory part of John F Kennedy’ speech, he says that every American ought to have the right to be treated as he would wish to be addressed, as one could wish his children to be treated. With these claims, we get to know that the issues of segregation as well as racial discrimination are not pleasing in the eyes of Kennedy and that is the primary reason as to why he laments on the issue of equality all the people of America particularly the Black people.
John F. Kennedy is of the opinion that all the people of the American nation should be afforded equal rights as provided by the constitution and that there should be no discrimination on the basis of skin color in the public places such restaurants, schools and regarding the voting of the leaders to represent the citizens. In the speech, Kennedy notes that since President Lincoln freed the slaves, their grandsons are not free, implying that he is of the full support of the freedom of the African American citizens. He further notes that the grandsons are still faced with oppression from the social and economic perspectives and therefore are not entirely freed from the bonds of injustices.
Kennedy being the president of America at the time accepts the challenge and accept that the American nation is faced with a moral crisis and that it cannot be left to the increased demonstrations in the streets for the crisis to be solved. He notes that it is the time to act in all the parties that are involved and these include the Congress, States and the local legislative body as well as the daily lives of individuals. He points out that Congress holds a crucial responsibility as they are entrusted to the formulation of laws and regulations that are enforced in the nation. Kennedy, therefore, urges the Congress to act and formulate the necessary laws to act as remedies for the struggle of the African Americans in the urge to regain their freedom. The Congress is requested to make legislation that provides all the Americans with equal rights to be served in the facilities that are open to the public such as hotels, restaurants, theatres, retail stores, and other similar establishments.
From John Lewis’ speech on the March on Washington delivered in August 1963, despite their struggle, he acknowledges the measures and efforts that John F. Kennedy has put in place to ensure that all the American citizens are exposed to the same treatments. The government has, in this case, provided a bill although Lewis claims that it is late and at the same time too little implying that at least there are some efforts in place to curb the menace facing the black Americans in the US. Lewis confirms through his speech that Kennedy is trying to take the revolution out of the streets and put it into courts implying that Kennedy wants the problem solved legally and not through the streets for them to find a lasting solution. With the evidence above, we can, therefore, say comfortably that John F. Kennedy was a strong supporter of civil rights for the African Americans.
