American Brothers All

In celebration of

Langston Hughes, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

President-elect Barack Obama

January, 2009Doherty Middle SchoolMrs. Palardy, Team 8A

Opening Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dHvYB5JdSs

Langston, Martin, and Barack

• This is a time to celebrate the success and achievement of three strong American men. Our nation has had many powerful, influential, determined leaders who are models of courage, perseverance, and vision. Listen in as these leaders’ words remind us of what it means to be an American, then and now.

Langston Hughes

• James Mercer Langston Hughes, best known as Langston Hughes, (February 1, 1902 – May 22, 1967) was an American poet, novelist, playwright, short story writer, and columnist. Hughes is known for his work during the Harlem Renaissance.

Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.• Martin Luther King Jr. surprised

and captured the attention of a nation during the civil rights movement with his creed of non-violent resistance.

• King put his belief into action and proved that this was an effective method to combat racial segregation.

• King began to concentrate on discovering a solution to end social ills. He read up on the writings of Henry David Thoreau becoming "fascinated by the idea of refusing to cooperate with an evil system.“

• But perhaps the most important sources of his developing philosophy were the Bible and the writings of Mahatma Gandhi.

Barack Obama• With his black Kenyan father and white

American mother, his upbringing in Honolulu and Jakarta, and his Ivy League education, Obama's early life experiences differ markedly from those of African-American politicians who launched their careers in the 1960s through participation in the civil rights movement.

• Echoing the inaugural address of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Obama acknowledged his youthful image saying: "I wouldn't be here if, time and again, the torch had not been passed to a new generation.

• A popular catch phrase distilled the concept: "Rosa sat so Martin could walk; Martin walked so Obama could run; Obama is running so our children can fly."

SourcesSome of these sites may lead you to other, unauthorized sites. Please view responsiblyFor more information on the work of Langston Hughes, see• http://www.redhotjazz.com/hughes.html• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langston_HughesTo hear Langston’s Hughes poem read aloud, visit the DMS website:

http://www.aps1.net/dms/palardypodcast.htmTo read more about Rev. Martin Luther King Jr, visit:• http://www.history.com/content/king/king-s-dreamsTo see and hear Rev. King’s speech at the March on Washington, go to:• http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htmTo read more about President-elect Obama, visit• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_ObamaTo see and hear Senator Barack Obama’s March, 2008 speech on race, go to

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWe7wTVbLUUAdditional sources:• John F. Kennedy’s inaugural speech:

– http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkinaugural.htm• The slideshow’s opening song, “Abraham, Martin, and John”

– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dHvYB5JdSs