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Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" Oration - Why BLACKS Have Forgotten & Misinterpreted His Words - RI10
posted Sunday, 30 July 2006
Martin Luther King’s
“I Have A Dream"
Oration – Why
Oration – Why
BLACKS Have
Forgotten &
Forgotten &
Misinterpreted
His Words – RI10
His Words – RI10
Martin Luther King, Jr.: "I Have a Dream"
[AUTHENTICITY CERTIFIED: Text version below transcribed directly from audio.]
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 a sign 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."©ˆ
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."©˜
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!
__________________________________________________________________________
*Text within asterisks was added on 3/31/06. Credit Randy Mayeux for bringing the omissions to my attention.
©ˆ Amos 5:24 (rendered precisely in The American Standard Version of the Holy Bible)
©˜ Isaiah 40:4-5 (King James Version of the Holy Bible). Quotation marks are excluded from part of this moment in the text because King's rendering of Isaiah 40:4 does not precisely follow the KJV version from which he quotes (e.g., "hill" and "mountain" are reversed in the KJV). King's rendering of Isaiah 40:5, however, is precisely quoted from the KJV.
©¯ At: http://www.negrospirituals.com/news-song/free_at_last_from.htm
Video Source: Linked directly to: http://www.earthstation1.com/
Also in this database: Martin Luther King, Jr: A Time to Break Silence
External Link: http://www.mlkmemorial.org/
External Link: http://www.thekingcenter.org/
Copyright Status: Text, Audio = Restricted, seek permission. Images & Video = Uncertain.
Copyright inquiries and permission requests may be directed to:
Estate of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr
Intellectual Properties Management
One Freedom Plaza
449 Auburn Avenue NE
Atlanta, GA 30312
Fax: 404-526-8969
_________________________________________________________________________
Martin Luther King did NOT SAY “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 EXCEPT FOR BLACKS”. His words cut both ways! Blacks cannot assume a person is “really fair and balanced to Blacks” just because the color of his or her skin is dark anymore than because that person’s skin is Caucasian. Blacks also “will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
I heard the results of a recent Poll in which Blacks supported Condoleezza Rice by 38%. 38%??? This can only be attributed to the “color of her skin”, not the “content of her character”.
Look at her face when she speaks. You will see the wear and tear on her conscience because of the lying she has to do to keep her job. If she is advised of my words, no doubt she will attempt to “clean up her act” and SMILE MORE. But she doesn’t smile NOW the way Bush does ingenuously. Condoleezza is a very unhappy and troubled Black woman!
Ask yourselves “Why did Colin Powell resign?” He has never satisfactorily answered that question. I think he took all the lying, deceit and immorality of the Bush policies that he could take. Colin Powell belonged to, as Condoleezza does now, to the Republican administration, which disenfranchised voters in Florida and Ohio because of the “color of their skin”. It is now universally accepted that Powell LIED TO THE UNITED NATIONS. There may be some vestige of conscience left in Colin Powell. Conscience has had no effect YET on the words and actions of Condoleezza Rice.
Lest you think this diatribe is only about good Democrats vs. bad Republicans, let me introduce you to Barack Obama, junior Senator from Illinois and a Black man. Initially I was very impressed with him and his words. His recent votes and “lack of words” have shown the “real” Barack Obama. I am no longer impressed with him. Obama is out for Obama, not for the people (Black or White).
Clarence Thomas and Armstrong Williams have proven to Blacks the wisdom of the following RULE:
BLACKS MUST NEVER
SUPPORT ANOTHER
BLACK PERSON JUST
SUPPORT ANOTHER
BLACK PERSON JUST
BECAUSE HIS OR
HER SKIN IS BLACK!
A WHITE FRIEND IS
PREFERABLE
TO A BLACK ENEMY.
HER SKIN IS BLACK!
A WHITE FRIEND IS
PREFERABLE
TO A BLACK ENEMY.
BLACK JUDAS GOATS
Armstrong Williams
Barack Obama
Clarence Thomas
Colin Powell
Condoleezza Rice
Don King
Greg Anthony
Tiger Woods
Armstrong Williams
Barack Obama
Clarence Thomas
Colin Powell
Condoleezza Rice
Don King
Greg Anthony
Tiger Woods
“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.” – King did not say, nor did he mean “except for Black people”!
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/Ihaveadream.htm
Google Flash Video of Address
Audio mp3 of Address
Click for pdf
In 1981's 'Body Heat', Kathleen Turner said, "Knowledge is power".
T.A.B.A.C.C.O. (Truth About Business And Congressional Crimes Organization)
comments (2)
1. The Capt. left...
Capt. You are WRONG AGAIN from bottom to top. Allow me to explain: "I realize you won't post this, but you should address these comments." -WRONG! You do not understand me if you think I will not publish opposing Comments, which add to our knowledge and an honest discussion. I don't publish Bullcrap and someone, who has nothing else in their quiver but 'Tabacco is an Anti-Semite". Oh yes, I get a few. I am working on a Post about Anti-Semitism vs Anti-Jew. I hope you will find it interesting. "Greg Anthony is a rich former basketball player." - And he played for the Knicks. But this was NOT AN OFFHAND REMARK. Kelsey Grammer, hosting one night on those 11:30pm Talk Shows, announced he was a Republican to thunderous applause. I removed "Frasier" from my viewing list, despite the fact it was my FAVORITE AND ONLY SITCOM! Only about 1 month ago have I begun watching those Reruns again. But this Post is not about Whites; it's about Black Judas Goats: Greg Anthony did the same thing on a Sports program; he announced he was contemplating public office on the Republican ticket. I don't know any Republicans, White or Black, that I would vote for or who have my unqualified support - that includes Lou Dobbs, whose program is frequently featured in my Blog. Tiger Woods insulted sitting president and refused a White House invitation after a victory. Bill Clinton was that sitting president. Woods justified it saying that Clinton had never before invited him to the White House. Now I, myself, have become less and less enamored of Clinton since I have been learning and blogging for the last year. But Tiger Woods is obviously a Republican. If I am WRONG in that assertion, and he does not support Bush and other Republicans, I will apologize to him in PRINT. I feel confident in his "Judas Goat" Tag. If I print everything I know, my Articles would be so loquacious even I would get bored. Occasionally, I assume a certain amount of credibility with my Readers. Obviously, in your case, that is not well-founded. "Your second paragraph about Blacks judging Condi Rice by here skin color is WAY OFF BASE. Blacks judge Condi on the same policies she defends with Bush that Black people don't agree with domestically or internationally." - On this point I may not have been entirely clear. If you misunderstood me, the fault is mine, not yours. Let me clear it up. I was talking about the 38% of Blacks, who according to that Poll, support Rice, while Bush only garners 5-10% support. The difference between 10% for Republicans in general and 38% for Condoleezza in particular is 28% minimum. For more than one-fourth of Blacks to support her and not White Republicans can ONLY BE ATTRIBUTED TO HER BLACK SKIN. A large % of Blacks also supported Clarence Thomas when he was being considered for Supreme Court, courtesy of a Republican president. Those MISGUIDED BLACKS have since learned that BLACK SKIN DOES NOT GUARANTEE FAIRNESS TO BLACKS! I was not referring to those Blacks (62%), who see Condoleezza for what she is - A JUDAS GOAT! I was referring to the 38%, at least 28% of whom are hoping she will be "Fair" ONLY BECAUSE SHE IS BLACK! I hope I have cleared up any misunderstanding with regard to my judgment and my HONESTY! I have NEVER REFUSED TO PRINT YOUR COMMENTS. They are always honest, sincere and RELEVANT. I publicly give you my Respect and Admiration, especially when you disagree with me. Public praise is nice to get but it is BOORING FOR MY READERS. I think most of your disagreement with me was based on my NOT explaining my thought process thoroughly. I usually do, but this is Sunday, and I hurried so I can get something else done besides blogging. Forgive me for my sloppiness. I agree with you on that point because I don't tolerate "SLOPPY BLOGGING" from others; why should you accept it from me. I dislike Republicans immensely, but my opinion regarding Republican politicians can best be described as HATRED. To feel less HATRED for a Republican, who happens to be Black, would be TOTAL HYPOCRISY - I ABHOR HYPOCRITES! If you deem that unreasonable or unfair, I can only say that Tabacco has NEVER CLAIMED TO "TURN THE OTHER CHEEK, BE A REAL CHRISTIAN, OR BE ABOVE OLD TESTAMENT VENGEANCE". I am, in fact, extremely POLITICALLY INCORRECT in some instances. And I wear my dislikes up front for everyone to see. What you see is what you get. I offend Blacks, Jews, Americans, Muslims, liberal bloggers as well as Neocons. To be otherwise goes against my Principles. Occasionally I am wrong on a particular point, but not often! Regards & keep challenging me! It's Readers like The Capt., who keep Tabacco on his toes. If you think I'm wrong, send me a Comment - not a private email. I'm a big boy; I can take it. (Smile) Respectfully, Tabacco PS I missed this on the first go-round. "How is he a sell out or Judas by voting his pocket?" (Greg Anthony) Voting one's pocket if one is either Jewish or Black is 2nd Best if in doing so you vote for politicians, who discriminate against your ethnicity! This may be presumptuous on my part, speaking for Jews, but I will take the chance. I don't think Republican Jews would vote for Hitler if he ran as a Republican. Any Black person, rich or otherwise, who votes for George W. Bush or any other Republican candidate, who will ultimately support the president in preventing Blacks from voting in national elections, is an ABOMINATION to Blacks in general and me personally. I hope that clears up any misconceptions with regard to my feelings on that matter! Again respectfully, Tabacco
Sunday, 30 July 2006 11:39 am :: http://thecapt.blog-city.com
Your second paragraph about Blacks judging Condi Rice by here skin color is
WAY OFF BASE. Blacks judge Condi on the same policies she defends with Bush
that Black people don't agree with domestically or internationally. What is
confusing is after making that statement you make her out as a Black Judas
Goat. Where's your consistency?
Capt. You are WRONG AGAIN from bottom to top. Allow me to explain: "I realize you won't post this, but you should address these comments." -WRONG! You do not understand me if you think I will not publish opposing Comments, which add to our knowledge and an honest discussion. I don't publish Bullcrap and someone, who has nothing else in their quiver but 'Tabacco is an Anti-Semite". Oh yes, I get a few. I am working on a Post about Anti-Semitism vs Anti-Jew. I hope you will find it interesting. "Greg Anthony is a rich former basketball player." - And he played for the Knicks. But this was NOT AN OFFHAND REMARK. Kelsey Grammer, hosting one night on those 11:30pm Talk Shows, announced he was a Republican to thunderous applause. I removed "Frasier" from my viewing list, despite the fact it was my FAVORITE AND ONLY SITCOM! Only about 1 month ago have I begun watching those Reruns again. But this Post is not about Whites; it's about Black Judas Goats: Greg Anthony did the same thing on a Sports program; he announced he was contemplating public office on the Republican ticket. I don't know any Republicans, White or Black, that I would vote for or who have my unqualified support - that includes Lou Dobbs, whose program is frequently featured in my Blog. Tiger Woods insulted sitting president and refused a White House invitation after a victory. Bill Clinton was that sitting president. Woods justified it saying that Clinton had never before invited him to the White House. Now I, myself, have become less and less enamored of Clinton since I have been learning and blogging for the last year. But Tiger Woods is obviously a Republican. If I am WRONG in that assertion, and he does not support Bush and other Republicans, I will apologize to him in PRINT. I feel confident in his "Judas Goat" Tag. If I print everything I know, my Articles would be so loquacious even I would get bored. Occasionally, I assume a certain amount of credibility with my Readers. Obviously, in your case, that is not well-founded. "Your second paragraph about Blacks judging Condi Rice by here skin color is WAY OFF BASE. Blacks judge Condi on the same policies she defends with Bush that Black people don't agree with domestically or internationally." - On this point I may not have been entirely clear. If you misunderstood me, the fault is mine, not yours. Let me clear it up. I was talking about the 38% of Blacks, who according to that Poll, support Rice, while Bush only garners 5-10% support. The difference between 10% for Republicans in general and 38% for Condoleezza in particular is 28% minimum. For more than one-fourth of Blacks to support her and not White Republicans can ONLY BE ATTRIBUTED TO HER BLACK SKIN. A large % of Blacks also supported Clarence Thomas when he was being considered for Supreme Court, courtesy of a Republican president. Those MISGUIDED BLACKS have since learned that BLACK SKIN DOES NOT GUARANTEE FAIRNESS TO BLACKS! I was not referring to those Blacks (62%), who see Condoleezza for what she is - A JUDAS GOAT! I was referring to the 38%, at least 28% of whom are hoping she will be "Fair" ONLY BECAUSE SHE IS BLACK! I hope I have cleared up any misunderstanding with regard to my judgment and my HONESTY! I have NEVER REFUSED TO PRINT YOUR COMMENTS. They are always honest, sincere and RELEVANT. I publicly give you my Respect and Admiration, especially when you disagree with me. Public praise is nice to get but it is BOORING FOR MY READERS. I think most of your disagreement with me was based on my NOT explaining my thought process thoroughly. I usually do, but this is Sunday, and I hurried so I can get something else done besides blogging. Forgive me for my sloppiness. I agree with you on that point because I don't tolerate "SLOPPY BLOGGING" from others; why should you accept it from me. I dislike Republicans immensely, but my opinion regarding Republican politicians can best be described as HATRED. To feel less HATRED for a Republican, who happens to be Black, would be TOTAL HYPOCRISY - I ABHOR HYPOCRITES! If you deem that unreasonable or unfair, I can only say that Tabacco has NEVER CLAIMED TO "TURN THE OTHER CHEEK, BE A REAL CHRISTIAN, OR BE ABOVE OLD TESTAMENT VENGEANCE". I am, in fact, extremely POLITICALLY INCORRECT in some instances. And I wear my dislikes up front for everyone to see. What you see is what you get. I offend Blacks, Jews, Americans, Muslims, liberal bloggers as well as Neocons. To be otherwise goes against my Principles. Occasionally I am wrong on a particular point, but not often! Regards & keep challenging me! It's Readers like The Capt., who keep Tabacco on his toes. If you think I'm wrong, send me a Comment - not a private email. I'm a big boy; I can take it. (Smile) Respectfully, Tabacco PS I missed this on the first go-round. "How is he a sell out or Judas by voting his pocket?" (Greg Anthony) Voting one's pocket if one is either Jewish or Black is 2nd Best if in doing so you vote for politicians, who discriminate against your ethnicity! This may be presumptuous on my part, speaking for Jews, but I will take the chance. I don't think Republican Jews would vote for Hitler if he ran as a Republican. Any Black person, rich or otherwise, who votes for George W. Bush or any other Republican candidate, who will ultimately support the president in preventing Blacks from voting in national elections, is an ABOMINATION to Blacks in general and me personally. I hope that clears up any misconceptions with regard to my feelings on that matter! Again respectfully, Tabacco
2. The Capt. left...
Evidence of my ignorance: Thanks for your Comment. I just figured out how to add site to "Neighborhood". I had tried to add "http://thecapt.blog-city.com", which doesn't work. Finally I tried "thecapt.blog-city.com" and voila! It only took me 15 minutes this morning to figure it out (smile) I have 5 sites listed on my admininistration page, which never got to my gutter. Thanks for motivation to try one more time. I had no idea I had a "My Neighborhood" page! Tabacco PS I will attempt to add you as a friend later on; my brain is pooped right now with the Neighborhood thing.
Wednesday, 2 August 2006 5:16 pm
Tabacco, you clean up well! We may have slight disagreements but your
perspective is solid, if different from mine.
Evidence of my ignorance: Thanks for your Comment. I just figured out how to add site to "Neighborhood". I had tried to add "http://thecapt.blog-city.com", which doesn't work. Finally I tried "thecapt.blog-city.com" and voila! It only took me 15 minutes this morning to figure it out (smile) I have 5 sites listed on my admininistration page, which never got to my gutter. Thanks for motivation to try one more time. I had no idea I had a "My Neighborhood" page! Tabacco PS I will attempt to add you as a friend later on; my brain is pooped right now with the Neighborhood thing.