Dr. King delivered this message during a speech titled “What Is Your Life’s Blueprint?” at Barratt Junior High School in Philadelphia in 1967. He was urging students to pursue excellence regardless of their circumstances or societal expectations. Street Sweeper

Lesson Plan: Do Not Let Others Define Your Limits

Learning Objective

Participants will internalize and apply the principles of perspicacity and alacrity of thought to confront challenges, refine their messaging, and pursue endeavors with purpose and velocity.

Learning Outcomes & Examples

By the end of the lesson, participants will be able to:

• Define perspicacity and alacrity of thought in civic and creative contexts Example: A participant explains that perspicacity is the ability to see through political doublespeak, while alacrity of thought is the readiness to respond with a clear, dignified message in any public-facing effort.
• Identify moments in history, media, or personal experience where these traits shaped outcomes Example: Participants analyze how Fannie Lou Hamer’s testimony at the 1964 DNC showed perspicacity in exposing injustice and alacrity in seizing the moment to speak truth to power.
• Compose a short motivational message or public statement that embodies these principles Example: A participant writes: “This is your moment. Move with perspicacity. Act with alacrity. The world isn’t waiting—it’s listening.”
• Reflect on how asking “What can I do?” transforms their approach to challenge and legacy Example: In a journal entry, a participant writes: “Instead of freezing when I saw the problem in our community, I asked what I could do. I organized a weekly gathering to amplify local voices. That shift—from fear to action—was everything.”

Three Examples of Not Being Defined by Limits

1. Temple Grandin Diagnosed with autism at a time when institutionalization was common, Grandin used her unique cognitive style to revolutionize humane livestock handling. She didn’t ask what she couldn’t do—she asked how her mind could solve problems others overlooked.

2. The Montgomery Bus Boycott Sparked by Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat, this movement wasn’t defined by the limits imposed by segregation—it was defined by the collective decision to walk, organize, and persist. The boycott lasted over a year, reshaping civil rights history.

3. Community Organizers in Underserved Areas With limited access to funding or formal platforms, organizers have turned living rooms, sidewalks, and social media into spaces for truth-telling and transformation. They didn’t wait for permission or perfect conditions—they built legacy with what they had.

Assessment

• Formative: Group discussion analyzing examples of perspicacity and alacrity in action (e.g., historical speeches, civic movements, public statements)
• Summative: Participants submit a 60-second motivational message or public service announcement using the main message and conclusion above, adapted to their voice and audience
• Optional Extension: Peer review and refinement of messages for clarity, impact, and emotional resonance.

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