Does the American Dream Really Exist?

Week 3 2020

I have a dream... 

Do you know who Martin Luther King Jr is?
On Wednesday, January 15, it is MLK Day, which is an American federal holiday marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.

Now let's read the text together:

"I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.”

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

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.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words 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 today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope." (Martin Luther King Jr, 1963)

Do you think Martin Luther King's dream has come true?

Why/Why not? Motivate your opinions.

In the short film below they talk about "It is just a label". What do you think it means? 





Below you can see a blank map of the different states in the US.
Do you know where to find the cities: Washington D.C, New York, Chicago, Phoenix, Miami, Houston, San Fransico, Los Angeles and San Diego? 

1. Without using Google - put an X on the map where you think the cities are.
2. Turn to your neighbour and compare your maps. 
3. Now use Google to see 

The American dream. Have you heard about the expression before?
What do you think it means?

1. Individually - write down your thoughts
2. Turn to a neighbour - discuss the expression 
3. In class - tell the rest of the class what you think about the American Dream. Does it really exist?  
4. The places and persons below are all taken from the books we will read. They are important to know about so you will be able to understand the books. 

Find out more about: 
- Where is it? Where is the place situated? Why is it a well-known place? 
- Who is it? Why is it important to know this person? 
- What happened? Why is it important to know what happened? 

After about 25 minutes we will, in the classroom, form a circle and you will individually present the name/place/event you got. 

Long beach
Tupac
Rodney King
Durango street
Newport beach
Elisabeth Mann
Renée Firestone
Gloria Ungar
Miep Gies
Rosa Parks
Rosetta Stone
Matthew Shepard
Snoop Dogg
Freedom Riders
Ku Klux klan
Jim Zwerg
Abraham Lincoln
Dr Mengele
Wilson High School
Living in the projects
Proposition 187
The American Dream
Mongomery bus boycott
Martin Luther King Jr
1992 Los Angeles Riots
segregation
Fredrick Douglass
Emmet Till
The American Civil War
Free states and slave states - Pre Civil War
Abolitionism

Homework for next time: 

Go to FLipgrid and record a short version of your own "I have a dream -speech" . 
FlipGrid - I have a dream

/ Sara

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