VOA慢速英语2014 纪念马丁路德金争取平等的权利

 

AS IT IS 2014-07-03 Civil Rights Activists¹ Remember Struggle for Equal Rights 纪念马丁路德金争取平等的权利

Americans are marking the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.  The act became law on July 2nd, 1964.  The measure banned discrimination based on a person’s race.  It also ended racial separation in schools, businesses, and in some public places, such as hotels and restaurants. 

The law won final passage after years of civil rights protests.  Millions of Americans marched for equal rights during the 1960s.  Their leader was the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior.

“Today I want to say to the people of America and the nations of the world, we are on the move and no wave of racism² can stop us.”

The civil rights movement brought Dorie Ladner and Joan Mulholland together more than 50 years ago.  They met in the southern state of Mississippi.  At the time, state officials enforced separation of the races.

Ms. Ladner remembers meeting with Joan Mulholland in Mississippi.  She says it was her first experience working with a white woman in the civil rights movement.

“She was also interested in the plight³ of not only my people but her people as well to erase⁴ this evil segregation⁵ that was bothering all of us.  I found it phenomenal and I embraced her.”

The young women stayed in the same student housing at Tugaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi.  They took part in civil rights demonstrations⁶ there.  Joan Mulholland says she was arrested two times for her actions, but refused to give up.

“I learned in church about ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you’ and then in high school we had to memories the Declaration of Independence.  ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.’  Practice what we preach and that’s what propelled me into it.”

The two women demonstrated in the 1963 March on Washington, D.C.  Less than a month later, four black girls were killed in a church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama.  Both women attended the funerals.

“It had a profound impact on me and made me more determined⁷ to try and eradicate⁸ this evil, this evil that was permeating⁹ through our society.”

More than half a century later, the women are sharing their experiences with younger Americans.  The two were especially happy when then President Lyndon Johnson signed the 1964 Civil Rights Act into law.

“The students took it to the streets, and the lawyers took it to the courts.  And the press took it to the world.  And not anybody do it by themselves.”

“The passing of the civil rights bill was something, one of the things we fought for and has brought about a new day, what we would call ‘social change’ to a large extent.  Change in the laws of the country, change in attitudes of the people.”

The women say they will always share a special connection – one that has lasted through the struggles and victories of the civil rights movement.  I’m Jonathan Evans.

1 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 racism   

n.民族主义；种族歧视(意识)

参考例句：

• He said that racism is endemic in this country.他说种族主义在该国很普遍。
• Racism causes political instability and violence.种族主义道致政治动荡和暴力事件。

3 plight   

n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定

参考例句：

• The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
• She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。

4 erase   

v.擦掉；消除某事物的痕迹

参考例句：

• He tried to erase the idea from his mind.他试图从头脑中抹掉这个想法。
• Please erase my name from the list.请把我的名字从名单上擦去。

5 segregation   

n.隔离，种族隔离

参考例句：

• Many school boards found segregation a hot potato in the early 1960s.在60年代初，许多学校部门都觉得按水平分班是一个棘手的问题。
• They were tired to death of segregation and of being kicked around.他们十分厌恶种族隔离和总是被人踢来踢去。

6 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

7 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

8 eradicate   

v.根除，消灭，杜绝

参考例句：

• These insects are very difficult to eradicate.这些昆虫很难根除。
• They are already battling to eradicate illnesses such as malaria and tetanus.他们已经在努力消灭疟疾、破伤风等疾病。

9 permeating   

弥漫( permeate的现在分词 )； 遍布； 渗入； 渗透

参考例句：

• His grace was more permeating because it found a readier medium. 他的风度因为有人赏识显得更加迷人。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Thoughts are a strangely permeating factor. 思想真是一种会蔓延的奇怪东西。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹