Summary

Lyndon B. Johnson begins his “We Shall Overcome” speech by addressing members of Congress and by introducing the purpose of his address. He talks about the violent incident in Selma, Alabama, where peaceful protesters were assaulted by law enforcement officers. Johnson explains that the United States should come together to prevent similar events from ever happening and to address the concerns of the protesters. 

Johnson explains that the issue of equal rights for African Americans is something that concerns the values, purposes, and the meaning of the nation. He continues by saying that the issue that needs to be solved is not a racial one, but an American one and that Americans of all political associations should try and solve it. To support...