Freedom's Voice: Comparing Lincoln's and King's Visions of Liberation

This essay examines the concept of freedom as presented in Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation and Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I've Been to the Mountaintop' speech. The essay highlights how both figures, through different approaches, aimed for liberation and the recognition of rights for all citizens. Lincoln's proclamation, issued during the Civil War, declared the freedom of slaves in rebellious states, while King advocated for peaceful demonstrations during the Civil Rights Movement. The essay explores the different contexts and methods employed by Lincoln and King, emphasizing their shared goal of achieving freedom and justice. It also notes the importance of freedom of assembly, speech, and press as essential rights. The essay concludes by synthesizing the common aim of both methods, which is to achieve freedom and liberation.

Name 1
Name
Affiliation
Instructor
Date
Introduction to Humanities
Freedom has been clearly mentioned and expounded on by the Emancipation
Proclamation made by President Abraham Lincoln and “I’ve been to the mountaintop”
speech made by Martin Luther King Jr. in the year 1968. People in a democratic society are
entitled to enjoy freedom, especially after liberation. Freedom also enables on and the
entire community has their rights respected.
From the two texts, it is worth noting that freedom is the major theme. President
Lincoln ordered that slaves be set free, (Smith, 2017, 32). This act touched many Americans
and made them to further interpret freedom to mean the act of being free to participate in
liberation movements that support coexistence amongst all people. On the other hand, King
Jr. advocated for freedom in his speech. This is in close relation to the Civil Rights Movement
that he mainly orchestrated, (Barnett, 2017, 10). In his speech, he states that the
Constitution makes a promise to offer freedom to all American citizens by protecting their
rights. These rights that are enshrined in the constitution offer one the freedom to
assemble, freedom of speech, freedom of the press and the freedom to fight for one’s
rights. He refers to these forms of freedoms as “natural rights” that have to be respected,
(Neumann, 2018, 46).

Name 2
While fighting for freedom, two different accounts are provided by President Lincoln
and King Jr. President Lincoln made his remarks during the civil war which claimed many
lives while many people from rebellious states were held captive and made slaves,
(Carrington, 2917, 559). It is at this point that he called for the release of these slaves and
prisoners hence according to them their freedom.
"That all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious
states "are, and henceforward shall be free." President Lincoln,
1863
On the other hand, King Jr. advocated for peaceful demonstrations during the Civil
Rights Movements. He clearly stated that for the freedom to be granted, and their
grievances o be heard, the best method to use was peaceful demonstrations. He cautioned
his followers against participating in violence. This was mainly because the injustice he was
fighting for could not be achieved through violence. In the end, peaceful demonstrations
made their demands to be listened to and heard.
“Somewhere I read of the freedom of assembly. Somewhere I read of the
freedom of speech. Somewhere I read of the freedom of the press.
Somewhere I read that the greatness of America is the right to protest for
rights. And as just as I said, we aren't going to let dogs or water hoses turn
us around. We aren't going to let any injunction turn us around. We are
going on” Martin Luther King Junior, 1968

Name 3
In a nutshell, freedom comes in different ways. Some can take up arms and others
can opt for peaceful means like King Jr. The ultimate aim for both methods is to achieve
freedom which mainly leads to the liberation of citizens in the country.

Name 4
Works Cited
Carrington, Adam M. "Running the Robed Gauntlet: Southern State Courts’ Interpretation of
the Emancipation Proclamation." American Journal of Legal History 57.4 (2017): 556-584.
Barnett, Randy E. "The continuing relevance of the original meaning of the Thirteenth
Amendment." Georgetown Journal of Law & Public Policy 15.1 (2017): 1-12.
Smith, Abigail Abby. "Memphis in Missouri: Movements that Molded America." (2017). 32
Neumann, David. "I Just Want to Do God's Will:” Teaching Martin Luther King, Jr. as a
Religious Leader." The Social Studies 109.1 (2018): 45-56.