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Martin Luther King Speech *MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR THE YOUNGER AUDIENCE!*

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Everyone in the United States of America Knows Martin Luther King Day is coming up for us to celebrate him and his determination to have all the black skinned people and all the white's be treated equally. Here is his great "I have a dream" speech:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbUtL_0vAJk


I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.

The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.

We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.

We cannot turn back.

There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating: "For Whites Only." We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."?

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."2

This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:

My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,

From every mountainside, let freedom ring!

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.

And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.

Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that:

Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last!

Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!
2011-01-11 23:16:00

Author:
chinook3
Posts: 453


http://bulk.destructoid.com/ul/user/1/10812-80551-ihaveadreamsiclejpg-468x.jpg2011-01-11 23:18:00

Author:
Unknown User


Everyone Knows Martin Luther King Day is coming up

Not everyone.
2011-01-11 23:21:00

Author:
Rabid-Coot
Posts: 6728


I love how powerful this speech is, and how he uses similes to add emphasis to this speech. King was a good, powerful speaker, which made this speech so great. This is just one of the many things that remind us how much we went through to give equality to people in the US.
"Free at last! Free at last!"
2011-01-11 23:25:00

Author:
dragonember
Posts: 607


Is there no video to accompany the actual transcript? Most, if not all, will not read it entirely, and even then, hard to get the passion.


I love how powerful this speech is, and how he uses similes to add emphasis to this speech. King was a good, powerful speaker, which made this speech so great. This is just one of the many things that remind us how much we went through to give equality to people in the US.
"Free at last! Free at last!"
Or at least as close to equality as realistically possible... :/
2011-01-11 23:25:00

Author:
KoingWolf
Posts: 386


TL;DR for the speech:

MLK Had a dream about black people and white people being able to live in harmony without racism.

Or something, idk, I'm just taking a huge guess. I always fell asleep at school when we were learning about MLK

Also, I'm just going to point this out.


how much we went through

What? No no no, WE/US didn't go through anything. People back then did.

We just live with it now, but WE had nothing to do with it.

I hate it when people do that >_>
2011-01-11 23:27:00

Author:
Unknown User


TL;DR for the speech:

MLK Had a dream about black people and white people being able to live in harmony without racism.

Or something, idk, I'm just taking a huge guess. I always fell asleep at school when we were learning about MLK


Did you "have a dream" while doing so?
2011-01-11 23:28:00

Author:
Jaslow
Posts: 775


Haha, you guys are awesome! But yes I know only people in the USA will know (Most Likely) and I added a video of him saying the speech 2011-01-11 23:33:00

Author:
chinook3
Posts: 453


Of course we do something, we remember that that man gave his life for equality, for something that is taken for granted by today's youth. People today don't seem to remember or care that just a few decades ago, being black meant hell. And just a few decades before that, being black, meant you were property.

So what do we do? We remember and learn. We help spread this message, of equality, because even today, the ignorant roam the Earth. If it wasn't for us, history would be forgotten and it would repeat itself.
So you wouldn't even have the chance to fall asleep in a class about MLK Jr, because he wouldn't even be brought up.
2011-01-11 23:35:00

Author:
KoingWolf
Posts: 386


Of course we do something, we remember that that man gave his life for equality, for something that is taken for granted by today's youth. People today don't seem to remember or care that just a few decades ago, being black meant hell. And just a few decades before that, being black, meant you were property.

So what do we do? We remember and learn. We help spread this message, of equality, because even today, the ignorant roam the Earth. If it wasn't for us, history would be forgotten and it would repeat itself.
So you wouldn't even have the chance to fall asleep in a class about MLK Jr, because he wouldn't even be brought up.

Nooooo, if it wasn't for textbooks that people typed up on computers, history would have repeated itself
2011-01-11 23:37:00

Author:
Unknown User


I can actually... see the ooze flow out of your words. 2011-01-11 23:41:00

Author:
KoingWolf
Posts: 386


http://bulk.destructoid.com/ul/user/1/10812-80551-ihaveadreamsiclejpg-468x.jpg How come this has more thumbs up than my whole speech writing...2011-01-11 23:42:00

Author:
chinook3
Posts: 453


Churchill speeches > MLK speeches.

Purely because Iron Maiden use part of Churchills speech before Aces High.

Also, I thought the speech was quite dull, if I'm honest. We studied it last year in my English Language A level thingy-ma-whotsit, and it's meh.
2011-01-11 23:48:00

Author:
Unknown User


@Chinook; You do know your speech says the word 'Negro', right?2011-01-12 00:01:00

Author:
Unknown User


Generally external content with stuff not suitable for LBPC is allowed with a warning to a certain extent.2011-01-12 00:03:00

Author:
Rabid-Coot
Posts: 6728


Ok guys I got it / Now lets get back onto posting stuff about MLK http://cagle.com/news/MLK09/images/heller.jpg2011-01-12 00:24:00

Author:
chinook3
Posts: 453


I have a dream... we gonna work it out out out..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_2cwhJndKY&feature=related
2011-01-12 00:29:00

Author:
Bremnen
Posts: 1800


I have a dream... we gonna work it out out out..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_2cwhJndKY&feature=related

Bad.

Really really bad.
2011-01-12 00:35:00

Author:
Unknown User


http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/1373/gallery30718624.jpg2011-01-12 00:35:00

Author:
Rabid-Coot
Posts: 6728


http://toppun.com/ProductImages/peace_anti_war_political_public_health_pictures/Got_MLK_Martin_Luther_King_Jr_got_milk_picture.jpg

i did it for the lolz
i can see this thread getting locked :/
2011-01-12 00:39:00

Author:
howMUCHforBOUNTY
Posts: 623


TL;DR for the speech:

MLK Had a dream about black people and white people being able to live in harmony without racism.

Or something, idk, I'm just taking a huge guess. I always fell asleep at school when we were learning about MLK

Also, I'm just going to point this out.



What? No no no, WE/US didn't go through anything. People back then did.

We just live with it now, but WE had nothing to do with it.

I hate it when people do that >_>
A nation has its history, and its history is continued and carried by the nation's people.
I said "we" as in people...
We ARE people, aren't we? Well, except Fishrock... he's too good at logic to be human.
2011-01-12 04:13:00

Author:
dragonember
Posts: 607


@Chinook; You do know your speech says the word 'Negro', right?

Idk if you're kidding or not, but Negro was the inoffensive, preferred term at the time. Now it's African-American.
2011-01-12 06:48:00

Author:
Incinerator22
Posts: 3251


Idk if you're kidding or not, but Negro was the inoffensive, preferred term at the time. Now it's African-American.

Jyess but you don't see people saying "Hey Negro."

Instead, they use another word, that defeats the whole purpose of this speech IMO
2011-01-12 07:05:00

Author:
Unknown User


I am in Norway and I know who he is (kinda) 2011-01-12 07:09:00

Author:
moonwire
Posts: 1627


Jyess but you don't see people saying "Hey Negro."

Instead, they use another word, that defeats the whole purpose of this speech IMO

i never fully understood why the other word was calmed to be offensive when its used is different terms like in that speech :/

and dont get me started if a white guy says it
2011-01-12 12:00:00

Author:
howMUCHforBOUNTY
Posts: 623


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFAD9RY-aRw

For more information on Give Back Day visit the Allstate Insurance Digital Newsroom (http://allstatenewsroom.com).
2011-01-12 13:53:00

Author:
Unknown User


i never fully understood why the other word was calmed to be offensive when its used is different terms like in that speech :/

and dont get me started if a white guy says it

But surely saying "Only Black People Can Say That Word" is racist?!
2011-01-12 15:17:00

Author:
Macnme
Posts: 1970


Jyess but you don't see people saying "Hey Negro."

Instead, they use another word, that defeats the whole purpose of this speech IMO

Yeah; I live in the South, and I hear the other word at least 15 times a day at my school, from African Americans. Not from white people -Caucasian Americans?- though. Chris Rock has a humorous take on this issue, but it is not appropriate for this website.


But surely saying "Only Black People Can Say That Word" is racist?!
How is it racist? Who is it racist against? A better question- why does it matter anyway? I reasonably certain that no one on this site uses that word anyway. Am I right?

I just think people should stop using racial classifications altogether, but that probably won't happen anytime soon.
2011-01-12 16:32:00

Author:
Stoicrow
Posts: 276


I just think people should stop using racial classifications altogether, but that probably won't happen anytime soon.

^That^

But I think it should be classifications in general, they lead no where and do no good.
2011-01-12 17:01:00

Author:
Unknown User


Of course we do something, we remember that that man gave his life for equality

I don't think he was planning on getting shot, though I suppose he knew the risks associated with spreading his message.


@Chinook; You do know your speech says the word 'Negro', right?

You're right! Martin Luther King was a racist! Oh...wait...
2011-01-12 17:38:00

Author:
chimpskylark
Posts: 335


Can you people get back on topic, please? Maybe this just needs a lock?

I am quite astounded that so much of what I've read here shows not only a genuine lack of understanding as to what Martin Luther King stood for and accomplished, but that it means so little to you. He is a man I revere and even though it's not a celebration we have in Australia, I will remember him on the day and be grateful that there are people who stood up for equality then so that we can have a little more of it now.
2011-01-13 00:45:00

Author:
BabyDoll1970
Posts: 1567


But surely saying "Only Black People Can Say That Word" is racist?!

Not at all.
Racial slang is offensive, period.
But it's more offensive if someone not of that race says it. Although people within that race usually say it to each other in jest.



Churchill speeches > MLK speeches.

That..has nothing to do with what this thread is supposed to be about.
2011-01-13 06:24:00

Author:
Bremnen
Posts: 1800


Not at all.
Racial slang is offensive, period.
But it's more offensive if someone not of that race says it. Although people within that race usually say it to each other in jest.



And even then, some African Americans find it offensive. I remember Bill Cosby making many public appeals to young African Americans to stop calling each other.. er... that term they call each other now. He said it's disrespectful to themselves and to all those who came before them that fought against slavery and for equal rights. He said it was like taking steps backwards. Whoever says it - African American or not - it's a derogatory term that reinforces a culture of thought, even when it is supposed to be said in the same way as one might say "homeboy" or "bro".
2011-01-13 07:26:00

Author:
BabyDoll1970
Posts: 1567


Not at all.
Racial slang is offensive, period.
But it's more offensive if someone not of that race says it. Although people within that race usually say it to each other in jest.




That..has nothing to do with what this thread is supposed to be about.

Nope, I was just throwing it out there.
2011-01-13 09:45:00

Author:
Unknown User


Today is the day!!!2011-01-17 17:05:00

Author:
chinook3
Posts: 453


We know Martin Luther King for two reasons in the UK;
1. His Famous "I have a Dream" speech.
& 2. That he was assasinated.

but ask the general plebian in the street and they would probably tell you he was a boxing promoter
2011-01-17 18:38:00

Author:
Macnme
Posts: 1970


Amazing the speech was great i believe in MLK he is a great leader I was very satisfied but every time i think of martin luther it makes me think of this weird Quote hehe but like im gunna tell youz2011-01-18 04:53:00

Author:
Unknown User


This is great:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2010/01/07/2010733125.jpg
2011-01-19 02:26:00

Author:
Mr_T-Shirt
Posts: 1477


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