Martin Luther King's oratory, a way to confront racism with strength

Bernat Francesch Itxart, graduate in History from the UAB and student of the master's degree in Contemporary History at the UAB, received this year's Arcadi Oliveres Award in the field of arts and humanities for his final project entitled 'I Have a Dream'. L’ideari de Martin Luther King a través dels seus discursos (link to the project). In this study, the student offers an in-depth analysis of the political and social trajectory of Martin Luther King, Jr., highlighting the relevance of his message in the fight against structural racism and for global justice.

Francesch Itxart's study combines primary sources, such as emblematic speeches and texts, to delve into how King's leadership and oratory inspired movements of non-violent struggle for equality and peace, with a global impact. “King inspired a global movement for a more just and egalitarian world, which connected with the processes of decolonisation, the struggle against the Vietnam War, and nuclear de-escalation,” he states.

Born in Mataró, Francesch explains that the choice of King's speech is based on a personal and social connection: "I chose it as an object of study because it connected my past and my future. I was born and raised in Mataró, in the neighbourhood of L'Havana, a central and comfortable neighbourhood. However, I live 15 minutes away from the Rocafonda neighbourhood, which is very humble, peripheral and traditionally has a large migrant population".

Current relevancy of the discourse and connection with social reality

Francesch stresses that "King's speech is still relevant because it covers many of the issues that affect our societies and our current systems. Racism remains a very present issue in everyday life, in institutions and in the current systems of political and social relations. Therefore, the fight against it needs to remain at the forefront. Hate speech, especially in the age of social media, is a challenge that needs to be combated with transformative discourses based on non-violence and inclusion."

One of the key contributions of the project is the realisation that "racial discrimination cannot be understood without economic oppression. Unfortunately, as King discovered, the terms of class and race are still inseparable from each other." Francesch points out that it is necessary to build a just society not only in terms of civil rights, but also in social and economic terms, a challenge that still exists today in many regions.

Francesch affirms that this global analysis can be specified in the reality of Mataró or Catalonia: "The socioeconomic reality of Mataró and Catalonia has many connections with the demands and claims of the civil rights movement. For example, one of the main campaigns of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s movement was in Chicago, against the segregation by neighbourhoods and precarious housing conditions of African-Americans. In Mataró, at present, there are similar situations in peripheral neighbourhoods such as Rocafonda and Cerdanyola, where the lack of decent housing and economic precariousness are added to a palpable racial problem".

Francesch criticises that “a housing system controlled by speculation funds and banks, with the support of the political and institutional system, causes evictions and unaffordable rents for many disadvantaged people”. He also highlights the social mobilisation that has recently arisen against this situation, taking inspiration from the struggles for civil rights in the USA.

The power of transformative oratories in a world of hate speeches

In the current context, marked by the rise of far-right groups and hate speeches, particularly aimed at the young population, Francesch proposes the need for a review of King's communicative strategies. “The extreme right benefits from effective hate speeches by using simple and emotional messages, which appeal to fear in order to maintain privileges,” explains Francesch. This phenomenon has a very negative impact on young people, particularly men, who deny the existence of male violence and consider it an 'ideological invention'”.

Francesch recalls that King's discourse is based on "love for others and non-violence. King did not identify his enemies as such, but as adversaries: he sought to convince and transform, not humiliate. His strategy was redemption and reconciliation". He quotes one of his most emblematic speeches, delivered in Selma, Alabama, in 1965: “Our aim must never be to defeat or humiliate the white man, but to win his friendship and understanding”.

Being an agent of change today: commitment to global justice

The Arcadi Oliveres Awards were created to award young students for their contributions through research and knowledge on issues related to sustainable development and human rights and, therefore, as agents of change. “Currently, with the rise of the far right, war conflicts and the spread of hatred in the networks, it is necessary to lead a transformation that empowers the disadvantaged, as King did in the fifties and sixties,” explains Francesch.

Arcadi Oliveres Award Ceremony

The Arcadi Oliveres Awards, organised by the UAB's Solidarity Foundation (FAS) with the support of the Barcelona City Council, annually distinguishes projects promoting global justice and social transformation. In its eighth edition, 17 UAB students received awards in different categories at a ceremony held on 7 May at the Faculty of Political Science and Sociology. The event included a speech by Francesch, which can be seen in this reel.

• Title: ‘I Have a Dream’. L’ideari de Martin Luther King a través dels seus discursos (link to the TFG project)
• Author: Bernat Francesch Itxart, graduate in History and student of the master's degree in Contemporary History, Faculty of Arts & Humanities, UAB.
• Supervisor: Dr Josep Puigsech Farràs.
• Content: analysis of the ideological and discursive evolution of Martin Luther King, Jr., from non-violent actions to social and economic claims, and connection with the current social reality.