Before reading this essay, discuss its title: "Reflections on a Dream Deferred." Have students create individual KWL charts identifying what they Know, Want to know, and what they have Learned throughout this lesson. To do this, students can use a piece of typing paper, fold it into thirds and write the individual letters K, W and L in each third. (For younger grades the teacher can use the chalkboard or a large sheet of chart paper for a whole group KWL chart). Independently or as a class, brainstorm on all that might be known, what they want to know and what was learned after the lesson. Some immediate questions to consider:
1. Who is U.S. Rep. John Lewis?
2. What do the letters before his name stand for?
3. What state does he represent?
4. What role(s) did he play in the Civil Rights Movement?
5. What does it mean to "reflect"?
6. What is a dream?
7. What does the word "defer" mean?
8. What could Rep. Lewis mean by a "dream deferred"?
Rep. Lewis states that there are over 8,000 black elected officials throughout the South. How many elected officials are in your state? Create a chart of elected officials in your state identifying them by party affiliation, gender and race/ethnicity. To take this one step further, see if you can identify your elected officials by age, religion, and (dis)ability; add these demographics to your chart as well.
How racially/ethnically diverse is your state?
Does the make-up of elected officials in your state represent the same level of diversity?
Is it important to have diversity in our government? Why?
Dr. King identified "silence" as "betrayal" in the 1967 speech Rep. Lewis quoted; what do you think Dr. King meant by this? How can silence be harmful? In what ways have you been betrayed by silence? In what ways can silence empower you? What role did silence play in nonviolent protests?
What do you think the true meaning of "democracy" is? As a class, create your own definition of democracy and display it prominently for all to see (decorate it for added emphasis).
Rep. Lewis feels as though "the dream of Martin Luther King, Jr. still has not been realized." What was Dr. King's dream? Do you agree with Congressman Lewis' statement? If Dr. King were alive today, how do you think he would feel about our progress or lack thereof?
Take the "final analysis" described by U.S. Rep. John Lewis in the last paragraph of his essay as a challenge. Write Rep. Lewis a letter — a direct response to his challenge — explaining what you can do as a young person, as a class, or in the future when you're an adult, to bring us closer to achieving Dr. King's dream.
Words to define
Beggar -- Edifice -- Leadership
Confederacy -- Philanthropist -- Humanitarian
Engulf -- Gnaw -- Democracy
Civil Rights -- Vocation
Extension activities
Have students read silently and aloud, "A Dream Deferred" by Langston Hughes. What central question does the poem ask? What is Hughes' message about dreams? What does he mean by a dream deferred?
A "Dream Deferred" was written by Hughes in 1951; King delivered his "I Have A Dream" speech in 1963; and today Rep. Lewis speaks of Dr. King's dream still deferred 40 years later in his current essay. What connections can be found here? How does this relate to the "American dream?" Over the years, who has been left out of the "dream"?
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