My introduction to activism came not from the peace movement, but from the civil rights movement. I felt so shamed by my father’s overt racism that during my simmer vacation in 1963, at fifteen years of age, I headed south to Alabama for a month of protesting. It was there that I first saw Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The people were very caring toward me, and more than once, prevented me from getting myself killed or maimed by police, dogs, fire hoses and angry racists. I wasn’t that brave, but stupid, thinking I was bullet proof, like so many kids of that age. From there, I traveled to Washington, DC and was on the mall when King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. In April, 1967, I was at Riverside Church for King’s “Beyond Vietnam” speech, and met with him afterward, because I was on the committee organizing Vietnam Summer. I met with Dr. King half a dozen times, always in a group, and only spoke with him one-on-one on a couple brief occasions, but he had a profound influence on me. He taught me to persevere, that worthwhile accomplishments take time. He taught me that faith does not have to be ugly. He taught me that non-violence is the only path to lasting reform. No monument can do justice to this giant of a man. Barack Obama gave the keynote speech. Here it is followed by “I have a Dream” and “Beyond Vietnam ”.
Obama Keynote Speech:
I Have a Dream:
Beyond Vietnam:
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10 Responses to “Obama Keynotes MLK Monument Dedication”
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Thanks for posting Tom. I didn’t get to hear the President’s full speech because a friend came over to pick up one of the feral kittens I rescued 3 months ago. They are all fixed and have their shots and 2 live with me now.
One little known fact about Dr. King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech is that it was entirely impromptu. And gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, sensing that he was losing the crowd, is credited with the inspiration when she shouted out to him: “Tell them about the dream, Martin. Tell them about the dream!”
And as Civil Rights activist, Roger Wilkins, wryly noted, “If Mahalia, with that voice, told you to do something … you did it!”
“No monument can do justice to this giant of a man.”
True, but apparently they didn’t look very far or try very hard to find a “talented” artist that could create a thing of beauty and inspiration, something that truly reflected MLK’s character, something that draws your eyes toward it instead of making you want to look away. Truly a monstrosity, imo.
Hi old friend. You’ve been doing a great job of keeping up with the events. Gee, I enjoyed and learned so much about you in this post. I remember as a little kid watching the broadcast of the I have a dream speech. I was captured…. since I was ceaselessly accused by ‘authority’ of day dreaming…. and I loved to do it and well, it’ resonated within me. Proud to know you TC, even from a distance. Would love to have you come onto HBM and tell about your time as a young activist… it would inspire right now… and we need activists on the active side of the street. A movement is being born. As boycott to the MSM I’ve been broadcasting everyday… so I am always open to having exclusive guests. LOL In any event, this is an inspirational post, ta. Caught up with rest, too… you’re doing the regular bang up job you always do! 🙂 ghb
Gwen, I’d be happy to do so.
What a privilege you had to meet Dr King , and to be part of a movement that changed , and continues to change , the world we live in-
You’ve done much to carry on the dream Tom – the monument comes none too soon! This is a remarkable post – Thanks!
Thanks everyone.
There are several lines from Mr Obama’s speech that I noted. he referred to MLK Jr as “. . . a man of flesh and blood, not of stone. . .” which I think is important to remember. And there is another section, near the end, that brought to mind the current OWS “. . . This is a country where ordinary people find in their hearts the courage to do extraordinary things, the courage to standup in the face of the fiercest resistance and despair and say this is wrong and this is right and we will not settle for what the cynics tell us we have to accept, and we reach again and again no matter the odds for what we know is possible . That is the conviction we must now carry in our hearts as tough as times may be, I know we will over come. I know there are better days ahead. I know this because of the man towering over us. I know this because all he and his generation endured, we are here today in a country that dedicated a monument to that legacy . So with our eyes on the horizon and our faith squarely placed in one another, let us keep striving , let us keep struggling, let us keep climbing towards that promised land , for a nation that is more fair and more just and more equal for every single child of God.
For part of it, I shut my eyes to listen, and it was as if MLK Jr werre doing the speaking!
Great post. One that I want to listen to again and again.
Glad you liked it. As orators, Obama and MLK have a lot in common. I hope he translates oration to action.