INTRODUCTION
Saint Augustine created a certain concept to try and explain the various reflections in a human being’s memory. Time can be expressed in three ways which are past, present and future. The past is usually a memory of things that have already taken place; the present is an experience of things taking place at the moment and the future is the anticipation of things yet to come. Psychological time travel is normally used to create situations which utilize the memories of things that occurred in the past, the set up at the present time and what is to be expected in the future (Augustine, 1998). This is a strategy that is normally used by many writers to invoke their readers to remember the events and the emotions that took place in the past. With psychological time travel, a reader is also able to imagine what the future might hold depending on the context of the writing. Continuity experience can only be achieved through and by memory alone thus this paper will seek to establish the notion of time subject in mental travel of time based on Martin Luther’s speech.
DISCUSSION
Martin Luther King Jr. is popularly known for his speech “I Have a Dream” which he conveyed during an organized march in Washington Dc in the year 1963. This speech placed him on the American spotlight and the whole world in general as one of the greatest speakers.
In the speech “I have a Dream”, Martin Luther takes his audience on a psychological time travel by mentioning various events that occurred in the past and even those taking place in their present time. He further encouraged the people to be hopeful by mentioning the events he believed will take place in thefuture. The theme of the past, present and future is clearly evident in Martin Luther’s speech.
Table 1: Past, Present Future of Martin Luther King
|
PRESENT |
MLK’s STATEMENT |
|
Past |
|
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· The main idea was to Express the unfulfilled liberation declaration · Shame of discrimination 100 years after signing the proclamation decree.
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· ‘Five scores ago, a great American in whose symbolic shadow we stand today signed Emancipation and Proclamation’
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|
Present |
|
|
· The main idea was American history of freedom · He argued that the right time to acquire freedom and equal rights among all citizens is the preset moment.
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· ‘I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation’ · ‘Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy’
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|
Future |
|
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· The main idea was acquiring a Peaceful and just nation · He also expressed the idea of attaining a racist free nation.
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· ‘I have a dream that one day in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with his governor having his lips dripping with the word of interposition and nullification, one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers’ · ‘I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character’
|
PAST
The popular speech by Martin Luther king was delivered on 28th August in 1963 at the famous Lincoln Memorial. The audience is taken down the memory lane to crucial events that took place 5 years ago. This was a time in the past that most of his audience could relate to as it was the time when the African-American generation believed that they could finally have their freedom back with the signing of the freedom declaration. The declaration specified that the all individuals will be entitled to equal rights regardless of their race, color or origin. Despite this the nature of the declaration was continuously ignored and the African Americans were still subjected to discrimination. “Five scores ago, a great American in whose symbolic shadow we stand today signed Emancipation and Proclamation” (Martin Luther King, 1963). He however expressed his regrets that this did not came to pass as a hundred years later after the decree was signed, the African-American were still regarded as slaves and living in shame due to the on-going discrimination.
PRESENT
The speech by Martin Luther was an important mark in history that demonstrated the beginning of a race to freedom by the African-American generation who for years had been oppressed and discriminated against. “I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation” (Martin Luther King, 1963). In the speech there is a rather smooth transition to the events that were occurring 100 years later which was the time the speech was being delivered. “But a 100 years later the Negro is still not free” (Martin Luther King, 1963). His mention of the historic demonstration that was taking place during the speech is an illustration of a present time. The present eventssadly expressed the lack of change in the way the African-Americans were being treated. The people were still discriminated against and they lived in deplorable conditions due to poverty and slavery. The issues that the people had hoped would be solved with the signing of the proclamation were still rampant. The present time was dark and the people continued to face injustices. “It is obvious today that America has defaulted on his promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned” (Martin Luther King, 1963). Police brutality, lack of the democratic right to participate in elections, slavery and high poverty levels were just among the many tribulations that the people faced. In his speech he urges the people not despair despite the many challenges that they faced at the present time.
In his speech, Martin Luther urged and emphasized that it was about time America provided freedom and equal rights to all its citizens. “Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy” (Martin Luther King, 1963). Martin Luther was a very peaceful leader and this is clearly expressed in his speech when he pleads with his fellow citizens to fight for their right in a disciplined and dignified manner without hate and vengeance. “In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds… We must not allow our creative protests to degenerate into physical violence” (Martin Luther King, 1963).
FUTURE-PAST
In the speech, King Luther passionately pleads on behalf of the African- American generation by condemning all the evils being done against them. In a message of hope, he expressed confidence that someday America will rise against inequality and everyhuman being will be treated the same way despite of their various differences and that America will not know peace until that happens. “There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights” (Martin Luther King, 1963)
FUTURE
The speech elaborates the American dream, which is to have a peaceful and just country in the future. In the speech he is confident that Mississippi which was a state that was faced with the most cases of discrimination will achieve justice and the people will acquire their freedom. The spiteful racists living in Alabama will in the future embrace their fellow human beings without discriminating. “I have a dream that one day in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with his governor having his lips dripping with the word of interposition and nullification, one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers” (Martin Luther King, 1963). He also expressed a bright and hopeful future for his four children whom he believed will not be criticized for being black. “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character” (Martin Luther King, 1963). Martin Luther saw a future where the slaves and their former owners will reconcile and live together peacefully.
CONCLUSION
The strategy of psychological time travel as used in King Luther’s speech invokes the various events that happened in the past, the events that were happening in their present and those that the people hoped would occur in the future. Recalling the events of the past enabled the audience to understand the events that led to that particular day. The mention of the issues at the present time invoked the desire of the people to fight for their freedom. The recount of various events happening at the present created a passion in them to make changes and have a better America. The mentioning of future on the other hand instilled a lot of hope to the people who were in despair due to the many tribulations.
