Martin Luther King, Jr.

Posted January 15, 2010

Who knows more about having a dream than civil rights activist, Martin Luther King, Jr.?

Born 81 years ago today, MLK Jr. changed the world when he delivered his infamous “I have a dream” speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963.

Here are a few excerpts:

“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 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 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 a table of brotherhood.”

One of the things I find fascinating about MLK, Jr. is the incredible amount of courage it must’ve taken for him to pursue his passion. Forget about the fear of public speaking or the fear of rejection, people were threatening the man’s life on a daily basis. But he didn’t let that stop him. In fact, here’s how he closed the last public speech of his career:

“Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”

In the spirit of MLK Day, what is your dream?

civil rights, I Have a Dream speech, Jr., Martin Luther King, MLK

Erika

Erika Liodice is a cross-genre hybrid author, content strategist, and founder of Dreamspire Press, where she is dedicated to teaching curious minds about unknown worlds through story. Her current project is Great Outdoors U.S.A.: 1,000 Adventures Across All 50 States, published by National Geographic. She also contributed a collection of travel essays to NatGeo's adventure-packed travel guide 1000 Perfect Weekends. Erika is also the author of Empty Arms: A Novel and the children’s chapter book series High Flyers. She is a contributor to the Writer’s Digest Essay Collection Author In Progress. Follow Erika's work and adventures at erikaliodice.com.