Paired Texts > "We Shall Overcome" Speech

On the evening of February 26, 2012, Trayvon Martin, a 17-year old African American boy from Florida, was fatally shot by a George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer. Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder and was found "not guilty" by a jury in July of 2013. These are the remarks of President Barack Obama after the trial.

This text outlines the Strauss & Howe theory that each generation is shaped and defined by the notable historical events and social trends of their time.

"The Gettysburg Address" emphasizes the importance of continuing to fight for the American principles of liberty and equality.

This landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine and called for the desegregation of American public schools.

In this historical document from 1790, Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin, argues that slavery must be abolished in the United States.

President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation during the height of the Civil War. It was directed at the eleven states still in rebellion and decreed that all slaves in these rebelling states were freed.

On August 28, 1963, approximately 250,000 people participated in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. It was at this event where Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous, "I Have a Dream" speech. In this special series from NPR's Morning Edition, reporter Michelle Norris looks back on this important moment in Civil Rights history.

In "Sonnet," the speaker urges their heart to be brave.

In this address to Congress in November 1917, Carrie Chapman Catt (1859-1947), a leader in the fight for women's suffrage, argues for the rights of women.

Claude McKay (1889-1948) was a Jamaican-American writer and poet who was a seminal figure during the Harlem Renaissance. In this poem, McKay discusses facing death and other obstacles with courage and dignity, and reflects upon his perspective on the black experience during early 20th century America.

The impetus for and impact of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 are discussed in this informational text.

This informational text details the controversial policies of Reconstruction after the American Civil War.

"Empowering the Black Power Movement" is an informational text that discusses how the Black Power movement emerged as a major political force for African American empowerment in the 1960s and 1970s.

The informational text "Martin Luther King, Jr." explores the life of King and his contributions to fighting inequality through nonviolent means.

The information text "An Incredible Job: Being America's President" discusses the variety of responsibilities and duties required of the president.

This informational text explores the Progressive Era and details the work of four influential leaders: Theodore Roosevelt, Upton Sinclair, Susan B. Anthony, and W.E.B. Du Bois.

In "Lyndon Baines Johnson and the Great Society," Mike Kubic discusses Johnson's presidency and how he worked to improve the lives of people in need with his "Great Society" program.

In "How Willie Velásquez Organized for Latino Voting Rights," Patricia Guadalupe outlines how Velásquez's organizing work changed the landscape of political representation for Latinos by increasing Latino voter turnout and getting more Latinos elected to office. Pair “‘We Shall Overcome’ Speech” with “How Willie Velásquez Organized for Latino Voting Rights” and ask students to discuss how different leaders helped protect and expand voter participation. In “‘We Shall Overcome’ Speech,” what argument does Johnson make about the right to vote in America? How does Johnson use rhetorical devices to advance his argument? Why does Johnson feel the issue is urgent? What issues that Black voters faced, according to Johnson, are reflected in the experience of Latino voters in “How Willie Velásquez Organized for Latino Voting Rights”? How is Velásquez’s rallying cry, “su voto es su voz” or “your vote is your voice,” supported in Johnson’s speech? In both texts, what are some of the motivations Johnson and Velásquez shared for pushing for expansion and protection of voting rights?