Martin Luther King Versus Abraham Lincoln: Comparative Essay

Throughout life, we have attempted to speculate on knowing the truth of whether America is a substantial nation or if it’s a nation made up of a pattern of different political ideas. Martin Luther King and Abraham Lincoln were two similar speakers who wanted to reach a goal to help their society and make a difference. Abraham Lincoln became a president of the United States on March 4, 1861, Abraham Lincoln remained as the 16th president of the United States. Martin Luther King was an American activist who became the most evident spokesperson and leader in 1955. Both these two men share a great historic moment for their people and they both have great values that have similarities towards each other that people never knew.

Through their position in society, they both fought for the civil rights of African American people who always didn’t have the first option. For example, in the year 1800, one-eighth of the population was African American slaves in the southern part of it. Lincoln spoke for them and became interested in making a difference and that’s why his final Emancipation Proclamation to free all slaves. It ensures all people to accept and respect all black race. Similarly, to Martin Luther king he also didn’t believe in slavery or any racial discrimination. He stayed true to non-violent actions and against breaking any rules so he can speak to the people and try to avoid any involvement of any crime to be in.

Another thing I found interesting was their similarity in their speeches. Abraham Lincoln speech “The Gettysburg Address” on June 1, 1865, where he started off with a powerful statement “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal”. In his speech, it was a strong statement that reminded people of what’s important in this world and that is respecting the more solid sacrifice, equality, and freedom. That equality for all men as put out in the Declaration of Independence.

Martin Luther King also had a purpose just like Lincoln and he stands up to what he believed in on August 28, 1963, where he spoke on “I have a Dream” he read his speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and mentioned “Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves, who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice” which was a powerful moment for Martin Luther King to respect a president like Abraham Lincoln and even though they live a century apart they both had a vision of how to make their country a more closer union through greater freedom. His speech made an entitlement of what he believed in what needed to be fixed in their world and that was to have injustice of racial inequality and freedom to be at peace with everyone.

As two great leaders in this country, they made a purpose to have freedom and equality. Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King both got assassinated and they were 103 years apart. On April 14, 1865, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes. It was during a performance at the Ford’s Theater in Washington D.C where he got shot in his red chair in his private booth area. According to “Second Inaugural Address” after the shot happen the people in the audience were shocked and afraid of the situation and screamed and cried on their beloved president and three days before the incident happen Abraham Lincoln foresaw his own death in a dream and even though he knew the risk of getting hurt he still took his chances and left to the theater. Furthermore, on April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King was killed by an assassin. That day they stayed at the Motel in Memphis with his entourage, they were getting ready to go have dinner at their friend Samuel Billy Kyles house and when they noticed it was cold outside his friend Andrew young recommended to go back in the room to grab a coat and before Martin could respond he was shot. After the assignation happen people began to riot and were furious about what had happened. People remembered the day before he died he mentioned: “ I have seen the promised land and I may not be there with you but I want you to know tonight that we will get there to the promised land” and its touching to know that no matter what happened to him he still wanted people to continue to fight for freedom.

One thing I can say that separates the two of them is Abraham Lincoln goes towards a realistic approach to politics and Martin Luther King extends the quality and freedom. Lincoln believed the American Democratic meant equal rights and equality of opportunity, but he drew the line between natural rights such as independence of slavery and political and civil rights. He even showed it in his writing and his speeches in “Second Inaugural Address” and what stands out the most is that it gives a clear distinct approach to politics, a significant set of principles, and obedience to this approach and principles. Other than Martin Luther King where he believed in his fellow Montgomery bus boycott of the busses and that was it started to end the segregation on the bus companies. In the “Letter from Birmingham jail,” it explains the meaning of extremists. The most important part is when he argues in his writing of being a creative extremist to lead the people to impeach positive causes, and you can tell in his writing how much he was willing to fight for the people of freedom.

To expand more in detail, I found it helpful to watch the video clips of both Lincoln and Martin of the reading and it gives you a perspective of what they went through. In my opinion, I wish I would have read these readings in high school because this gave me a very descriptive outlook of every detail they fought for and understanding how they did it. These leaders were more than

References:

1. “Abraham Lincoln – Second Inaugural Address”. [Video file]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SrG3xYRxKY;
2. Clutter, R. (2020) LBSU304 Liberal Arts Core Foundation Week 6 Lincoln and King. [PowerPoint Slides].
3. King, Jr. M.L.. (2017). Letter from Birmingham Jail. In The Norton Reader (pp 806-819) New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company.
4. “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. [Video file]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIpfCVt2eb4
5. Lincoln, A. (2017). Second Inaugural Address. In The Norton Reader (pp 801-803) New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company.