Introduction
The American freedom and democracy was as a result of long, tedious and bloody struggles, characterized by notable historical icons that fought for the change. Foner Erick, an award winning American Historian, discusses elaborately about the American freedom fighters whose voices contributed significantly in ascertaining freedom and democracy. In his book titled, “Voices of Freedom” second edition, Foner gives an account on how various writers, speakers, political leaders and civil rights activists rose to the historical occasions to enforce for the freedom, freedom from slavery, discriminations, racial segregations, and freedom from social injustices (Foner, 21-98).
It should, however, be noted that the three figures highlighted and discussed in this peace of work do not in any way exhaust the rather long list of men and women that fought for democracy in the United States, the likes of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Robert Francis Kennedy, Marcus Garvey, George Washington and others. In fact, the list may be long and somewhat beyond the scope of this paper. This paper is purposed to assess and critically analyze the social-political lives and careers of the following three freedom icons.
Abraham Lincoln on democracy and freedom
Abraham Lincoln lived between 1809 and 1865, serving as the 16th U.S president. He was born to Thomas and Nancy Lincoln, second child after his sister Sarah Grigsby.He was named after his grandfather Abraham Lincoln, the one man that was popular for owning wide tracks of land and a great farmer of the time (Randall, 65-87).
The great leader to be had exceptional ways of acquiring knowledge. At his youthful age, Lincoln worked as a farmer and on rails. One of his admirers described him as “a little engine that knew no rest” (Randall, 65-87).
Having been brought up from a poor background, Lincoln did not acquire the best of education from deserving schools. According to Foner Erick and Randall, Abraham Lincoln was mostly self-educated. He became a lawyer thereafter and subsequently a State legislator (Foner, 93-302, & Randall, 65-87).
Abraham played a major role in the American civil wars, in which he conserved the American Union, fought for antislavery, rededicated for the spirit of nationalism, justice, liberty, democracy and equal rights (Randall, 65-87).
Lincoln first ran for the senate seat in 1858 in which he faced a stiff challenge from his opponent then, Stephen A. Douglas. Unfortunately for him, he lost the senate seat. He, however, moved on with his campaigns and speeches of freedom and democracy (Foner, 93-302, & Randall, 65-87).
As a result of his strong resentments against slavery in the States, and after he challenged his close rival, Stephen A. Douglas on a contested debate, Lincoln won his first nomination to the Republican through which he became the 16th American president in 1860.Under his presidency, he first concentrated on political and military dimensions of war, seeking to re-unite Americans, a society that was divided by wars and hatreds (Randall, 65-87).
Came 1863, the 13th U.S constitutional amendment was passed. This was the result of Abraham Lincoln’s proclamation on the emancipation of slavery in America. Consequent to this move, Lincoln became under drastic political tensions and confrontational attacks from the radical Republicans that were enforcing for rather unjustified treatment of the Southern Americans. The secessionists were also on his case and were amongst his greatest enemies. He never gave up the fight for freedom and democracy. He fought back the enemies with a rare audacity and fortitude (Foner, 93-302 & Randall, 65-87).
Abraham Lincoln won the 1864 re-election held towards the end of the civil wars. In his unquenchable thirst for peace in the mother country, he became very generous and friendly to the people, inspiring the Southerners to surrender the bloody civil traumas and call for rapid re-union of the American brothers and sisters (Randall, 65-87).
Lincoln was also famous for his novel speeches and addresses. In his resentments against secessionists, he made powerful inaugural addresses that shook the southern frontiers.” …In your hands, my discontented dear countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. The government will not assail you…as you have no oath registered in heaven to destroy it, while I shall have the most solemn one to protect, preserve and defend the government” ( Randall, 65-87). This was one of the inaugural addresses that were given by President Abraham Lincoln.
Lincoln has continuously been recognized by historians as one of the greatest American leaders that ever ruled. In one of his outspoken remarks, he defined democracy as “a government of the people, by the people and for the people” (Foner, 93-302, & Randall, 65-87). This definition has highly been accredited by many scholars and widely reaffirmed in historical books across the global academic fraternities.
Who was Dr. Martin Luther King?
He was a great man! Born in Atlanta on the 15th of January, 1929.First named as Michael, but changed his name later to Martin. Reading from historical literatures such as that of Foner, we are informed that Martin Luther was brought up from a Christian background. His father was known to be a man of God at the Ebenezer Baptist Church. These divine and spiritual interventions impacted on the ways of life of King Jr. (Arsenault, 5-62).
In 1954, while serving as a pastor, succeeding the work of his father, though at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, civil right movements were at the verge of erupting, preceding the much discussed Irene Morgan’s refusal to surrender a bus seat to a white. Martin Luther King Jr. was consequently and unanimously elected as the leader of Montgomery Movement in 1955 (Arsenault, 5-62).
Came 1957, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) was established. Its basic agenda was to manage the civil rights movements.Dr. King was elected as the leader of the civil movements. It was from this juncture that Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. rose to the desperate occasion to lead the fight for freedom of the African Americans, freedom from massive segregations and discriminations (Foner, 93-302, & Arsenault, 5-62).
He continued to be part of major non-violent mass movements protesting for civil rights, liberty and fair treatments. And as a result of his inexorable determination, he was arrested and locked behind the bars in Birmingham in 1963.In his letter that he wrote while in prison, Dr. King argued that it was only through visible protests that a progress could be realized (Arsenault, 5-62).He was later assassinated in 1968.The King is also renowned for his great speech “I have a dream”, an inspiring speech that was listened to by more than 250,000 protesters.
Dr. King is notably known to be the youngest American leader that was ever rewarded a Nobel peace price as at 1964.This was a reward for his sweat and blood in fighting racial segregations and rampant discriminations through what he termed as civil disobedience and non-violent strategies. Martin also took part in ceasing the Vietnam wars and gun fires (Arsenault, 5-62).
Among the awards he got as a result of his selflessness in fighting for justice were the presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and a Congress Gold Medal in 2004. These awards were given after he was assassinated back in the year 1968.To keep the good memories of his significant contributions as a freedom fighter; an holiday was marked in his name, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The case of Irene Morgan Kirkaldy
History informs us that Irene Morgan was born on the 9th of September, 1917 at Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. She was initially known as Irene Morgan but later as Irene Morgan Kirkaldy. Morgan successfully took over the fight on U.S segregation laws from the renowned Rosa Parks, another civil movement’s activist (Washington, 23-122).
In the year 1944, Irene Kirkaldy Morgan made her first step towards the fight for freedom and justice when she refused to give up her bus seat to a white American. A move that led to her arrest, having been accused of breaking the segregation laws. The 27 years old African-American lady was thrown into jail in Virginia (Foner, 93-302, & Washington, 23-122).
Morgan Kirkaldy filed her appeal case of conviction for having been accused of breaching the segregation laws. Her case filed as, “Irene Morgan v. Commonwealth of Virginia.328 U.S” was heard in 1946 by the U.S Supreme court of justice. The case was argued by Thurgood Marshall, chief counsel to NAACP. In the very year (1946), a landmark ruling was made on the Morgan’s case which rendered segregation laws on interstate bus travels unconstitutional and therefore illegal (Foner, 93-302, & Washington, 23-122).
In one of her statements, Irene Morgan argued that, ”if something wrong happened to a person, the best thing to do was to have it rectified in the best possible ways” (Foner, 93). Such a notion could possibly be perceived to must have led her to the defiance action she took against the evils of segregation laws (Foner, 93-302, & Washington, 23-122).
Robin Washington in his work titled, “You don’t have to ride Jim Crow”, explains how the ruling on Morgan’s case galvanized radical reactions from a group of whites and blacks embarking on street protests, boycotts, strikes and freedom rides, to back up the case of Morgan (Washington, 23-122).However, Foner also notes that the 1947 freedom strives were met by stern resistance from the opposing voices of segregation. Many of the protesters and freedom riders were arrested and jailed (Randall, 65-87).
The 1947 reconciliation journey inspired and contributed expansively to the 1961 freedom rides that were characterized by tactics of non-violent direct actions, courtesy of the Morgan’s case (Foner, 32-187).Irene Morgan is thus recognized for the move she took to fight for justice in the society. She received a number of honorary awards, including the recent in which she was awarded the presidential Citizens Medal by Bill Clinton, year 2001. Morgan Kirkaldy passed away in the August of 10th, 2007 at 90 years old.
Discussion
It’s virtually indisputable that many patriotic men and women fought fearlessly for the American freedom and democracy. Among such historical figures remembered for their laborious and fruitful contributions in voicing for the costly American freedom were Abraham Lincoln’s, one of the renowned American presidents that took a center stage in fighting antislavery, civil wars and injustices.
Dr.Martin Luther King Junior, an outstanding civil rights movement activist, famously admired for his greatest speech, “I have a dream”, was to reiterate the footsteps of Lincoln. Dr. King actually took from where his freedom fighter predecessor left. He rejuvenated the works of Abraham Lincoln that still lingered in the memories of many Americans.
Just like it was Dr.Kings dream that democracy was to come to America, those were the same wishes of Lincoln, that the American society would one day stop the fights and hatreds, re-unite, and live like brothers and sisters in a peaceful democratic society. A society where people had a voice to be heard, a society in which people would be allowed to govern themselves. A society for the people, and not for the political leaders. The very definition of democracy by Abraham Lincoln has been perceived as full of freedom motives and well wishes for the society.
When talking of the voices of freedom, it’s also appropriate that powerful women like Irene Morgan be incessantly acknowledged. She did her best in trying to make America a just society, society free from segregation and racial discrimination (Arsenault, 5-62).
The actions of Irene Morgan were strongly backed up by many Americans that were desperate for a freedom. When Martin Luther King took over the fight, many of such people were greatly relieved for having the chance to air their bitter grievances under the leadership of Dr.King Jr.
History wouldn’t have judged them otherwise. It began with Lincoln, paving way for democracy, and for the future American freedom ambassadors to take control after they were eliminated. Then Irene Morgan said no to the perpetual human maltreatments. The anti-democrat freedom foes turned blind eyes and deaf ears to the earlier appeals by Lincoln for people to reunite and make the American society a better place for all to live in. Americans were watching keenly, and when Rosa Park and then Irene Morgan stepped in, there was a ray of hope at the father end of the long journey.Dr.King was later to come to the rescue of the discontented society of blacks.
Both Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. have highly been ranked by historians and politicians as great freedom fighters. A study conducted and published in 2004 revealed that historian generally ranked Abraham Lincoln number one. Lawyers placed him number two after George Washington.
Conclusion
The voices of freedom were at long last heard. With the help of courageous and determined men and women, there came a change. The long sort for freedom and democracy finally hit the corridors of the America. America then came to be popularly known as the United States. For their hard work, sacrifices, sweat and blood, the American freedom fighters will forever be acknowledged. They were jailed, tortured and some assassinated for the sake of freedom. And so they deserve some great honors.
The moving speeches of Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King have often been used as points of reference by political leaders. We see the current American president Barrack Obama borrowing so much from the speeches and political ambitions of Martin Luther and Lincoln. Other leaders across the world have also perceived them as the world heroic figures. Well done Lincoln, Martin and Morgan!
References
Arsenault, Raymond. Freedom Riders. The Struggle for Racial Justice. Oxford University Press.US. 2006. 5- 62.
Foner, Eric. Voices of Freedom. American History. 1st Ed. WW.Norton. 2003. 24-460.
Randall, James. The Unpopular Mr. Lincoln,” in Randall, Lincoln. The Liberal Statesman.1947. 65–87.
Washington, Robin. Program Recalls Little-known Pioneers of Civil Rights Effort. Duluth News Tribune. 2006.23-302.