"I Have a Dream" (Martin Luther King)

[Michael Harris]

March Honors 'I Have a Dream' Speech
By LOUISE CHU, Associated Press Writer

ATLANTA - Arms linked, a crowd of 300 marched Thursday through downtown Atlanta and the neighborhoods where Martin Luther King Jr. grew up to mark the 40th anniversary of the slain civil rights leader's "I Have a Dream" speech.

Political and community leaders … led the march through the city's historic Sweet Auburn district to a rally that eventually drew about 400 people at the MLK National Historic Site.

Rep. John Lewis, who helped organize the original March on Washington in 1963 where King delivered his oration, reflected on the progress made since then.

"In 1963, I was on the outside protesting, looking in," Lewis said. "But because of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and because of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, I am now on the inside making laws.

"I wish Medgar Evers, President Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Robert Kennedy ... and many others were here today to see how far we've come."
…


Imagine, 40 years since that wonderful speech. I was a kid – still in junior high school (or middle school). I came from a white, middle-class family in south-central New Jersey. We had little (if any) visible racial troubles. That wonderful speech did not mean much to me at the time.

Well, I am older now and I have heard the entire speech only a few times, but I have heard the beginning many times. My skin gets goose flesh every time and I get a frisson that makes me sit up and rejoice. My daughter who is now 17 gets the same kind of feeling when she hears the speech.

We have come a long way, and we now see that the end is further away than we thought. We are moving in the right direction.

I will drink a toast (cran-grape juice) to Martin Luther King, Jr., his wonderful dream, and his great courage in letting us all in on the dream.

[Diane Jarosz]

Hi Michael,
http://webevents.yahoo.com/mlk/dream/[/URL]
Here's the link to a live Speech from MLK.
DJ

[Michael Harris]

Diane,

Thank you for the sound of truth. I sat back in my big office chair, closed my eyes, and listened to a great man speak beautiful words. :)

[Diane Jarosz]

Good- morning Michael,
Your welcome.
Compelling speech it was.

DJ

[Michael Harris]

Hi Diane,

Sorry to have been out of touch for so long. Work and family drained me - I slept 12 hours Saturday night and needed more.

I have always felt that MLK's death did more for civil rights than his life would have. I think I may have been wrong - his death hbrought about change so much more quickly, but there is so much violence.

[Rod Elliott]

Thank you for the link Diane. Althought I have heard the speech many times it still gave me goose bumps. All the years, I had lost track it was in 1963. We have come a long ways, but lost a lot of lives in the process.

Rod

[Michael Harris]

Rod,

And to think that we were old enough when it happened! Does that make you feel old? :(

We have come a long way, but the price we have paid! :(

[Rod Elliott]

Well Michael it doesn't exactly make me feel young.:) In 1963 JFK come within a few feet of me in a motorcade. He was in the Old Lincolin, I imagine there were several. He was the only President I ever saw in person and within arms reach. Then of course later in that year he had his head half blown off. Very sad, I always like that guy.

Rod

[Michael Harris]

Rod,

We could use some of the JFK optimism right now. And we could use some of MLK's gentleness, too.

[Diane Jarosz]

I have always felt that MLK's death did more for civil rights than his life would have. I think I may have been wrong - his death hbrought about change so much more quickly, but there is so much violence.

Hi Michael,
It's a shame for us, but your words ring out true.
DJ

[Michael Harris]

Diane,

We frequently forget what the great teachers taught us and carry on with a shell of their teaching. :) :D :cool:

[Mary Louise Campbell -]

Mike that was great:)

I was in the 4th grade when an annoucement came over the intercom saying that President Kennedy had been shot. There was a moment of silence, and then it seems everybody was crying; students and teachers. School was let out early.


When Martin Luther King was assassinated I was in 10th grade, there was an annoucement on the intercom of his death, Lord there was panic and mayhem.

Students were walking out of class going through town tearing up storesfronts, cars, anything that seem to be in their path.

When out of the blue comes a minister speaking to everyone that would listen. He informed us that this was not the way the Martin Luther King would've handled the situation, and requested that we follow him to his church. While there the minister, played Martin Luther King's I have a Dream speech.

Tears were flowings from everyone. We all know he was trying to make a positive change for us all in his life time.

My Grandmother; God Bless her soul told me you never die if someone speaks of you.:) :rolleyes:


Mary

[Michael Harris]

Mary,

I ama little older than you, but I was still in scholl when these tragedies occured.

I am still moved by his I Have a Dream and Mountain Top speeches. I have grown to respect him more and more as I grow up and understand him a little better. I also understand the time better.

It is most interesting that modern police departments did not exist until the mid- to late-1960s. The civil rights movement and the anti-Vietnam protests helped bring some professionalism to police work.

If you note, Miranda v. Arizona was 1966.

Miranda warnings and MLK at the same time - what an improvement to law enforcement (actually the victime of law enforcement) and civil rights.

:) :D :cool:

[Maurice Hopkins]

I am very impressed by your topic and glad to hear that you feel the way you do about racism.

I would like to know, if they were here, would they really be proud?

How far have we really come?

Do you realize that we are all, slowly but surely giving up our rights as americans and our freedom?

Have we really overcome our adversaries in this lifetime in this world, we live in?

If so then why are we still at a secret war overseas?

Why are we at war in our own country?

Why is it that people still live in poverty?

Why is it that we have to work either two jobs or long days and weeks to survive?

Why is it that we live in a country that is not economically sound and secure?

Also why are so many people being layed off or fired from their jobs?

I really would like to know, would they really be proud?

I would like to know about these questions, maybe it is just me, please help me understand?

[Laverne Griffin]

Iam from Atlanta and your forum on Martin Luther King Jr. speech was great. We have come a long way and still have a long way to go. some people need to learn about their history all history black and white blue green are purple. I was very happy to read your forum . you stated that your family also. We all need to work together to make this a better world, And live the Dream.




Imagine, 40 years since that wonderful speech. I was a kid – still in junior high school (or middle school). I came from a white, middle-class family in south-central New Jersey. We had little (if any) visible racial troubles. That wonderful speech did not mean much to me at the time.

Well, I am older now and I have heard the entire speech only a few times, but I have heard the beginning many times. My skin gets goose flesh every time and I get a frisson that makes me sit up and rejoice. My daughter who is now 17 gets the same kind of feeling when she hears the speech.

We have come a long way, and we now see that the end is further away than we thought. We are moving in the right direction.

I will drink a toast (cran-grape juice) to Martin Luther King, Jr., his wonderful dream, and his great courage in letting us all in on the dream. [/QUOTE]:)

[Bryan McManis]

Greetings,

In many ways Martin Luther King was the Moses of the 20th century. His death was a tragedy. I do believe that his death was not in the best interest of the Blacks in this country. He would have never allowed the Welfare system to be the way it was for 40 years. It enslaved blacks for a long time.

In addition, I do not believe that he would have approved of or allowed the affirmative action programs to be the way they still are and would have created a better system or not allowed it to even exist. Affirmative Action was contrary to his very famous speech. Unfortunately, it is still color of skin and not content of character. I pray God will lift this curse from our nation.

Respectfully,

[Tina M Phillips]

I would like to comment on his speech. It is a compelling one and many of us have been moved in a deep way.

Even though I have a great passion for his words, it amazes me how far away from the 'Dream' we are, to some extent.

Where certain cities can appear so diverse but deliberately allow racism in a major way.

I believe in change and change will happen with all of our help.

Good speeches by men like him and others is what keeps hope alive.

Tina Phillips

[Michael Harris]

Tina,

I, too, am amazed.

I went to Trenton (the NJ state capital) a few weeks ago to fight some state board. The township in which I live had made some of its decisions based on the (still) existing desegregation plan. And we are not a community that was segregated on purpose.

If we could all live MLK's dream rather than talk and fight and posture all the time.

The speech still gives me goose flesh.:)

[Tina M Phillips]

Originally posted by Michael Harris
Tina,

I, too, am amazed.




Michael,

You know, there are very few people who would even admit that.
It is great to know that speeches can linger on in our hearts. I'm praying to see more "catch the vision".


Tina Phillips

[Michael Harris]

Tina,

The speech that MLK gave the day before his death is another one of his great speeches. I will run a search on that one.

[Tina M Phillips]

Originally posted by Michael Harris
Tina,

The speech that MLK gave the day before his death is another one of his great speeches. I will run a search on that one.

I'll have to look into that one also. :)

[Michael Harris]

Tina,

The more I read about MLK and his work, the more I appreciate his greatness.

[Valerie Roach]

Life provides endless discoveries...endless discoveries provide life.

Tina, this is wonderfully true! Thank you. I appreciate others who also share the lessons they have learned in this lifetime; afterall, that's what lessons are for!

:cool: My Best,

[Michael Harris]

Tina/Valerie,

It is nice to know that MLK's dream has given so many of us dreams at least as large as his.

[Eric Christian]

"I have a dream."
A dream is a powerful thing. It spurs a man into doing great things:

A dream spurred Abraham into teaching his children
into being self disciplined and to appreciate the IDEA
that there is a God that exist that is all knowing and all
powerful, which has lead to religions and laws based on
religious ideals that teach men self discipline.

A dream spurred every inventor into making something
that makes all of our lifes more pleasurable. One
inventor being the man who invented the internet.

Dreams spur artists into creating great things of beauty.

But, for many a dream is only a dream. Most African Americans in this country are still at a loss as a result of slavery. In a society that is still European/Greek influenced African and African Americans are still at a disavantage because of the culture gap. Sure a handful of rappers get to make a few records and a little money, but there are more disinfranchised African Americans then there rappers. The attention should be on solving the problems that keep people on the outside, or at least feeling as if they are on the outside.

Martin Luther King's dream and speech were powerful, but they haven't been remembered enough in American history since.