Throughout its history, America has been home to immigrants in search of a better life. America is seen as a land where opportunities are endless. The greatest explanation of the American dream is Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech; I have a dream. Dr. King's speech seems more like a statement of truth than a speech. At the time of his speech, African Americans were not free, even though the Declaration of Independence states that all men are created equal. Dr. King's movement paved the way for the idea that there is an American Dream. The idea that someone can be anything they would like to be. This idea is still relevant in America. Americans pursue their dream every day with the opportunity to go to college and work. Although America is the land of endless opportunity, Americans take these opportunities for granted, while other parts of the world make it their goal to get there. At certain times in history, the American dream has not been accessible to certain races. Rather, it will be the Japanese during the First World War or the African-Americans during the Civil War. The land of opportunity has stopped people from achieving their dreams. Our country has gone through great trials of racism. The great Martin Luther King Jr. worked his whole life to change these things. Dr. King made history when he delivered his I Have a Dream speech at the nation's capital in 1963. "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 (296). Because Dr. King followed his dream, he enabled others to follow theirs. Compared to other countries, America is known around the world as a paper place......the American dream is still achievable. It is becoming easier to access higher education if someone cannot afford it. Every legal citizen of the United States is required to have an education that helps them achieve their dream. Works Cited “The American dream hunted down the hard way”. Weekend edition Saturday. (February 16, 2008): Literary Resource Center. Gale of wind. Chattanooga State Community College. November 24, 2009. King, Marin Luther Jr. “I Have a Dream.” Write on the river. Ed. Jessica Portz. 2nd ed. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2009. 294-297. Print.Warshaurer, Matthew. “Changing conceptions of the American dream. » Who wants to make millions. December 12, 2003. The web. November 21 2009.