OPINION

My Minute of News: The qualities that made MLK’s famous speech so famous

Jan 17, 2022, 4:24 PM | Updated: 4:52 pm

Rev. Martin Luther King Jr....

Black American civil rights leader Martin Luther King (1929 - 1968) addresses crowds during the March On Washington at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC, where he gave his 'I Have A Dream' speech. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)

(Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)

Sound up to listen to My Minute of News live!

This is an editorial piece. An editorial, like a news article, is based on fact but also shares opinions. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and are not associated with our newsroom.

When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood behind a microphone at the Lincoln Memorial on Aug. 28, 1963, he and more than 250,000 other people had peacefully marched from the Washington Monument.

It was just under a mile and represented the culmination of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The goal of the march organizers was to demand civil rights for Black Americans.

There were a dozen other speakers before Dr. King, and one after him. But it was his “I Have a Dream” speech that became intimately linked with the march. It’s his speech that kids are taught about in school today. 

What made it so special? As far as I can tell, it boils down to three things: time, place, and words.

The time

It was 1963, and the height of the fight for civil rights, a battle that had been waged in America for years ahead of that tumultuous decade. It can be argued that the Black fight for civil rights began in the late 1940s when President Harry Truman issued an executive order to end racial segregation in the U.S. military.

Between that moment and King’s speech in 1963 was Brown vs. Board of Education and the end of segregation in public schools. Then the murder of Emmett Till, Rosa Parks’ refusal to sit in the back of a bus, a bus boycott, non-violent protests, the Civil Rights Act of 1957 ensuring voting rights, sit-ins, Ruby Bridges, and freedom riders.

Meaning Dr. King was riding a wave (and arguably, at the same time, in the mix creating the wave) that had decades of momentum with clear demands: civic and economic rights for Black Americans.

The place

Nearly 250,000 Black Americans had peacefully and solemnly moved a little less than a mile, from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial. Then, Dr. King took them on another trip, one through American history.

The words

With his words, he reminded everyone there and everyone who would watch and listen later, of some of the most powerful words uttered by other American giants.

Like the Gettysburg Address, the greatest speech in American history. King’s speech began with rhetorical flourish, using the same words as those used by the man sitting behind King in gigantic statue form. “Five score and seven years ago … ” (except Lincoln said, “four score.”)

He cited the powerful Declaration of Independence decree that all men are created equal.

And as he described the past, he pointed to the future, repeating the title of his speech as a chorus. As an exclamation point.

“I have a dream!”

Proof of the strength of this speech … each January… for 57 years… it’s heard in classrooms… on TV…and leaves each listener to weigh …whether Martin Luther King’s dream has … or ever will … come true.

Other reading:

 

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Opinion

Baltimore bridge collapse shown, ship hits bridge...

Jeff Caplan

Jeff Caplan’s Minute of News: The Baltimore Bridge Collapse

Today wasn’t the first time history was made at that Baltimore location.

1 day ago

Princess Kate announced she has been battling cancer since a stomach surgery earlier this year....

Jeff Caplan

Jeff Caplan’s Minute of News: Princess Kate is facing a challenge like no other

I have no connection to Princess Kate, A young woman who found her prince in the best tradition of Disney — but now it's different.

3 days ago

Salt Lake City International Airport is number one for being on time....

Jeff Caplan

Jeff Caplan’s Minute of News: Salt Lake’s airport is number one… at something

Turns out our gorgeous new airport, Salt Lake City International Airport, is number one in America for on-time performance.

5 days ago

immaculate movie poster next to ksl movie show host steve salles...

Steve Salles

KSL Movie Show review: ‘Immaculate’ walks a fine line between camp and criminal

In this KSL Movie Show review, "Immaculate" opens the door to a convent that isn't what it seems.

6 days ago

ghostbusters: frozen empire movie poster next to ksl movie show host steve salles...

Steve Salles

KSL Movie Show review: ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ didn’t quite come together

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' tried to recapture the magic of the original 1984 film. KSL Movie Show host Steve Salles says he expected better from this latest installment.

6 days ago

Jeff Caplan thinks there's no saving baseball from being boring — even with Shohei Otani on deck....

Jeff Caplan

Jeff Caplan’s Minute of News: Why is baseball so boring?

Could it be because one of the star baseball players, Shohei Otani, doesn't cater to an American audience?

7 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

My Minute of News: The qualities that made MLK’s famous speech so famous