"I have a dream. . . ."

[DanielBenoit]

The greatest speech given in America during the 20th century. It is both a joyous thing to see how far we've gone, but also a sad thing to see how little we've been able to progress at times.

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

Just as a interesting fact: MLK in fact improvised the infamous "I have a dream" theme apparently after gospel singer Mahalia Jackson cried out "Tell them about the dream, Martin!" It is truly soul-shaking how great a speaker he was, and unlike the other great speaker of the 20th century, Adolf Hitler, he spoke for peace and justice for all people.

God bless you MLK and your legacy.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/81/Martin_Luther_King_-_March_on_Washington.jpg

http://blog.al.com/amuseme/2008/08/large_mlk.jpg

http://kjzz.org/news/arizona/archives/200901/MLKDream/mlk.jpg

[Leland Gaunt]

It is a wonderful speech, and a wonderful day in history for what it stands for. Videos, and audio of that speech are still inspiring.

[billl]

When I was teaching ESL in D.C., I decided to try this speech out on some relatively advanced students. I prepped them on some vocabulary and some of the events referred to, and then played the mp3 on the computer (it was the days before youtube). Of course, they all knew who he was (and they were from several different countries) but the speech blew them away. "I Have A Dream" is powerful and inspiring, and he's a magnificent speaker, of course. The students were proud and sort of thrilled, I could tell, that they were able to directly understand such a famous speaker giving such an historic speech in this new (to them) language. It's a message that can move people in all times and places, and I was pretty moved and proud as well, for several reasons, as we all listened and reacted to the audio.

[OrphanPip]

Oh, God the desire to dip into contemporary politics and ***** about Glenn Beck.

Instead, here's a song, in memory of Dr. King.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhnPVP23rzo

[BienvenuJDC]

Daniel, you present an excellent point about Adolf Hitler ( a man whom by my opinion was a wicked as they come...maybe there are some more so). Being a great speaker isn't always being a great and (benevolent) leader for the masses...however, the masses will follow them all the same (because they are able to sway them with powerful words). I do agree that MLK did push for peace, and it is a shame that he didn't have more life to attribute. But sometimes martyrs can do more for a cause BECAUSE of their death and sacrifice. Do you suppose that many white people may have STOPPED to THINK after his death? Would that speech have been as powerful without his sacrifice? I think that it was powerful, but maybe even more so now?

[JBI]

Powerful moment, no doubt, greatest speech of the 20th century? well, even King I think gave better ones.

[Lokasenna]

It is truly soul-shaking how great a speaker he was, and unlike the other great speaker of the 20th century, Adolf Hitler, he spoke for peace and justice for all people.


The patriot in me is wondering what happened to Winston Churchill? There was a series of radio programmes the other week remembering the Battle of Britain, and Churchill's speeches are still as eloquent and powerful as they ever where.

But I digress. King's legacy is a great one, and it is a moving and powerful speech, though I'm not aware of any other speeches he made (the failings of a British education that focussed on Winny, perhaps?). Without wishing to get political, it does seem that these days we have no great speakers on the world stage. There was an article about it in the paper the other week, lamenting a culture that now depends upon soundbites - perhaps a bit overwrought, but I can understand the sentiment.

[JBI]

The patriot in me is wondering what happened to Winston Churchill? There was a series of radio programmes the other week remembering the Battle of Britain, and Churchill's speeches are still as eloquent and powerful as they ever where.

But I digress. King's legacy is a great one, and it is a moving and powerful speech, though I'm not aware of any other speeches he made (the failings of a British education that focussed on Winny, perhaps?). Without wishing to get political, it does seem that these days we have no great speakers on the world stage. There was an article about it in the paper the other week, lamenting a culture that now depends upon soundbites - perhaps a bit overwrought, but I can understand the sentiment.

Churchill hired an actor to deliver it, so do we count that?

[Sebas. Melmoth]

Powerful moment, no doubt, greatest speech of the 20th century? well, even King I think gave better ones.

Yeah, like his anti-imperialism speech at Riverside Church "Why I Am Opposed to the War in Vietnam." April 30, 1967.

[JuniperWoolf]

Oh, God the desire to dip into contemporary politics and ***** about Glenn Beck.


Hahaha, I was thinking the exact same thing. Fight it, fiiight it!