On August 23, 1963, civil rights leaders led a march in Washington, DC. Speeches were given and music played to show support of civil rights legislation and to protest racial discrimination. One of the speakers was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a minister and civil rights activist. His speech “I Have a Dream” is one of the most well-known speeches of all time. His message is powerful and based on a dream for our country.
American Dream
The address took place on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. King said, “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.” He states that it’s a “sacred obligation” America promises its people.
His words are a direct quote from The Declaration of Independence. King reminds us of the promises our founding fathers, the architects of our republic stated. He holds our country accountable, which is the duty of the people.
He goes further by reminding the government that “Unalienable Rights” along with “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” are for all people. Black people, white people, everyone.
King’s Dream
Later in his speech, King quotes The Declaration again when he says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” He calls our leaders to uphold these words that are the foundation of our country.
He is using the original words of a national document and stays true to them. By quoting the Declaration of Independence King shows he grounds his leadership and his ministry to a firm base. To stay strong as a people and as a nation, we have to uphold our foundation.
Dr. King’s dream for America is the original American dream that all men are equal. His speech is about equality, freedom and making a nation strong. He even tells us how to achieve it. Unfortunately, we don’t usually see that part of his message. Instead, we get five minutes of the I have a dream section and miss out on the rest of his message where he addresses how to make equality work.
The Answer to the Dream
The speech isn’t just talking about civil rights; King sets a plan of action into place. Most people are unaware of that. The actual “I Have a Dream” speech is 17 minutes long and is full of answers that will give us the dream. It’s worth listening or reading the entire speech.
Sadly, that may be difficult to do because of “public domain.” The term refers to a creative material not protected by intellectual property laws like copyright, trademark, or patent laws. In other words, public domain means the public owns it so anyone can use it. The speech is privately held.
MLK Jr. was the one who obtained the rights to his speech about a month after he gave his address. Two companies started selling unauthorized copies. Dr. King put a stop to it by copyrighting the speech. Since then his family has received income from anyone who wants to use the material.
The Dream Available To Everyone
I understand why the family wants to keep the rights so people won’t profit off of it. There are historians and civil leaders who have tried to get open access for everyone to use but to no avail. Regrettably, since it is challenging to find the entire speech and video, most people haven’t heard all that is in it.
What we don’t know is the wisdom that Dr. King brings. He tells about the injustice of black people and the urgency of changing things now. He doesn’t just talk about how things could be; he tells us how to do it. He specifically instructs black men in what they are to do and educates white men in their role. This isn’t just a speech about what is happening and what it should be. He tells us how to fix it.
I was able to receive permission to print the entire speech in my book “Who’s Changing the Meaning?” Through the right channels, they allowed me to put in the entire speech for a substantial amount of money. I felt so strongly about everyone reading the document that I agreed to pay for it.
More Than A Dream
Undoubtedly, this is one of America’s greatest speeches. If we expect things to get better we have to change. And change will occur if we follow what Dr. King teaches us. Read the entire speech. It is even more powerful if you get to watch Dr. King’s presentation while you read the words. (Check out the internet.) It will affect you! The speech tells us how it will happen. Why not follow the man who not only dreamed of what could be but also showed us the way.
Soli Deo Gloria
