August 28 - Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' Speech

This Day in History: 28 August 2020

 

28 August 1963

 

57 years ago, today, Martin Luther King, Jr delivered his 'I Have a Dream' speech, during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, to about 250,000 people. The demonstrators, both black and white, and poor and rich, came together in the nation's capital to demand voting rights and equal opportunities for African Americans. This was in an attempt to appeal for an end to racial segregation and discrimination. The civil rights movement achieved two of its greatest successes in the next year: the ratification of the 24^th Amendment and the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, placing King's speech among the most iconic in American history.

 

With the statue of Abraham Lincoln towering behind him, King used the rhetorical talents he had developed as a Baptist preacher. He told of the struggle ahead and stressed the importance of continued action and nonviolent protest. As he came to the end of his prepared text, he was overwhelmed by the moment and launched into an improvised sermon. Prompted by Mahalia Jackson's cry: 'tell them about the dream, Martin!', King described his dreams of freedom and equality arising from a land of slavery and hatred. By equating the civil rights movement with the highest and noblest ideals of American tradition, King allowed many to see for the first time the importance and urgency of racial equality.

 

Want to find out more about Martin Luther King's powerful speech? Click here for more information, or here for more about the civil rights movement prior to King's speech. Click here for a video of King's speech.