Ethan Shonk

Prof. Fieldston

American History 2

14 December 2023

We Shall Overcome Speech

            The speech, referred to as “We Shall Overcome,” was given to a joint session of Congress on March 15, 1965. In the speech, President Johnson urged the Voting

 

Rights Act to be passed and stressed the value of removing barriers to ensure that every American had equal voting access. The speech’s significant use of the words “we shall overcome” connected the administration with the ideals and spirit of the civil rights movement. On August 6, 1965, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was ratified. Its objective was to end the discriminatory voting practices that did not give African-American voters their right to vote.

Knowing the history of the Civil Rights Movement, which took place between 1950 and 1960, is essential to comprehending President Lyndon B. Johnson’s speech to a joint session of Congress regarding the Voting Rights Act. Ending racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans was the goal of the Civil Rights Movement, a social and political initia

 

tive. Activists like Martin Luther King Jr used civil disobedience, marches, and nonviolent protests. Another influential historical event that caused tension during the civil rights time was Brown v. Board of Education. In Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court ruled that state statutes that set up separate public schools for white and black children were unconstitutional. The ruling of this case was a significant turning point in the struggle against racial segregation. Finally, a momentous event that influenced Congress on the Voting Rights Act of March 15 was the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March. A momentous occasion was the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, led by prominent civil rights activists like Martin Luther King Jr. On “Bloody Sunday,” state police resorted to violence against the demonstrators as they fought for the right to vote.

Within President Johnsons’ speech, he exercised many strengths that allowed his speech to reach its full potential. The speech’s emotional appeal was one of them. The address was passionate, particularly when President Johnson said, “We shall overcome.” This

 

struck a deep chord with the civil rights movement and united people by communicating purpose and unity. In addition, the speech made a strong case for Congress to enact the Voting Rights Act. It outlined a precise legislative agenda and showed the president taking the initiative to deal with a pressing problem. Finally, the historical background of the Civil Rights Movement and the most recent events in Selma served as an appropriate framework for President Johnson’s speech. This contextualization emphasized the significance and urgency of the proposed legislation.

While President Johnson’s speech significantly impacted society, some weaknesses could have affected his speech’s influence. Johnson’s emphasis on systemic racism was limited, which was a flaw. Even while the speech focused on voting rights, one may argue that it skipped over other essential topics like systematic racism and injustice, which the Civil Rights Movement was fighting against. Furthermore, the speech did not detail the particular aspects of the proposed legislation; instead, it outlined the moral need for voting rights. It’s possible that some detractors wished for more specific information regarding how the Voting Rights Act would solve the difficulties African Americans encounter.

Work Cited

 

“‘We Shall Overcome.’” WHHA (En-US), www.whitehousehistory.org/we-shall-overcome-lbj-voting-rights. Accessed 15 Dec. 2023.