Thank you. Someone said you don’t get anywhere if you don’t take risk. What a risk he was taking with this speech. I think the risk he took paid off. What do you think? Sarah Brown, Texas City, Texas,
I didn't realize this about his speech. Thank you for enlightening me. It makes the experience of listening to it today that much better. Liz Crowe--I grew up in the South, have lived literally all over the world since and am now in South Carolina--a "progressive" state according to the many thousands of transplants who live here to take advantage of the low cost of living, low tax rate, and decent weather (although we got a huge snow storm and I'm channeling my Michigan years this morning looking out at it on MLK Day 2022).
Thank you Marc for sharing these insights. We are still working on realizing Dr. King's dream; as our country continues to experience systematic racism that continues to be exposed through daily police shootings of African Americans, political polarization of treatment shown by equal rights protesters and those home insurrectionists who tried to overtake the capital, and those working to remove hard fought over voters rights. Dr. King's dream is shared by others and we all must continue to do our part until it has been fully realized!
I am old enough for Dr. King's speech to be part of my history and young enough for it to have been above my consciousness for a while - a thing dimly seen and not fully perceived. I have vivid black-and-white memories of people being pushed to their knees by a firehose and piquant memories of "us" and "them" stories growing up. As a child I could not understand how some of God's creations could be less simply because of how they looked, or the language they spoke.
As an adult I can appreciate the greatness in Dr. Kings works and words. I can use them to help align my own words and deeds with what is true, what is right, and what is kind. I can celebrate a family that crosses many lines that would have been unfathomable when I was a baby - grandchildren that have ethnic heritages far different from mine. I want them to celebrate those heritages, to exalt in their ancestors, but also to embrace mine as part of their identity.
As an older man, I can share the hopeful expectation that my children and grandchildren will be treated based on their accomplishments and character and that they likewise will grant respect to others as it is due to their inner person without regard to irrelevant externals. Dr. King's genius was to take that heartfelt desire and express it in the language of angels and children, simple enough so that any could understand and powerful enough so that nobody could deny its truth or impact.
I thought practice makes perfect. That is how they say some of our best athletes are who they became because they practice, over and over and over again while others didn't. I know if I'm nervous about a upcoming speech I have to do, my drafts will turn to draft, then after all the mark up I will practice but once I'm in front of the people it becomes totally a different outcome, I either feel a different way or something may cone over me to change what I have written, it then becomes what I feel God is leading me to say. I don't like speaking in front of crowds and sometimes nerves play a big part on how well I do. I can't imagine with the crowd he had, how do you speak for so many waiting on your word. I do a lot of prayer before an assignment like this, and hold on to my faith that God is leading me
Looking around today, does one get the sense of people being judged more by the color of their skin or the content of their character. A lot of people will cite the words today, and then tomorrow return to identitarian politics in which one's group affiliation - particularly race - is all that matters.
You have to prove or authenticate a miracle to be made a saint. Mahalia Jackson performed her miracle and proved it that day. "Tell them about the dream, Martin." She should be sainted for that.
100% agree! I grew up in Alabaman and Southeast Kentucky so I am thrilled to be full circle and in the land of proper sweet tea again. Greenville is definitely a mix of long-timers and newcomers.
I grew up when Dr. King was making his mark on society, I was always confused because I had many black friends and played ball with them too, and then I moved to Mississippi....
Thank you. Someone said you don’t get anywhere if you don’t take risk. What a risk he was taking with this speech. I think the risk he took paid off. What do you think? Sarah Brown, Texas City, Texas,
Great backstory that I didn't know. It explains the impact of his strong finish from the heart.
I didn't realize this about his speech. Thank you for enlightening me. It makes the experience of listening to it today that much better. Liz Crowe--I grew up in the South, have lived literally all over the world since and am now in South Carolina--a "progressive" state according to the many thousands of transplants who live here to take advantage of the low cost of living, low tax rate, and decent weather (although we got a huge snow storm and I'm channeling my Michigan years this morning looking out at it on MLK Day 2022).
Thank you Marc for sharing these insights. We are still working on realizing Dr. King's dream; as our country continues to experience systematic racism that continues to be exposed through daily police shootings of African Americans, political polarization of treatment shown by equal rights protesters and those home insurrectionists who tried to overtake the capital, and those working to remove hard fought over voters rights. Dr. King's dream is shared by others and we all must continue to do our part until it has been fully realized!
I am old enough for Dr. King's speech to be part of my history and young enough for it to have been above my consciousness for a while - a thing dimly seen and not fully perceived. I have vivid black-and-white memories of people being pushed to their knees by a firehose and piquant memories of "us" and "them" stories growing up. As a child I could not understand how some of God's creations could be less simply because of how they looked, or the language they spoke.
As an adult I can appreciate the greatness in Dr. Kings works and words. I can use them to help align my own words and deeds with what is true, what is right, and what is kind. I can celebrate a family that crosses many lines that would have been unfathomable when I was a baby - grandchildren that have ethnic heritages far different from mine. I want them to celebrate those heritages, to exalt in their ancestors, but also to embrace mine as part of their identity.
As an older man, I can share the hopeful expectation that my children and grandchildren will be treated based on their accomplishments and character and that they likewise will grant respect to others as it is due to their inner person without regard to irrelevant externals. Dr. King's genius was to take that heartfelt desire and express it in the language of angels and children, simple enough so that any could understand and powerful enough so that nobody could deny its truth or impact.
I thought practice makes perfect. That is how they say some of our best athletes are who they became because they practice, over and over and over again while others didn't. I know if I'm nervous about a upcoming speech I have to do, my drafts will turn to draft, then after all the mark up I will practice but once I'm in front of the people it becomes totally a different outcome, I either feel a different way or something may cone over me to change what I have written, it then becomes what I feel God is leading me to say. I don't like speaking in front of crowds and sometimes nerves play a big part on how well I do. I can't imagine with the crowd he had, how do you speak for so many waiting on your word. I do a lot of prayer before an assignment like this, and hold on to my faith that God is leading me
Looking around today, does one get the sense of people being judged more by the color of their skin or the content of their character. A lot of people will cite the words today, and then tomorrow return to identitarian politics in which one's group affiliation - particularly race - is all that matters.
Thank you for a revealing explication of Dr. King’s historic speech. I learned from your analysis.
You have to prove or authenticate a miracle to be made a saint. Mahalia Jackson performed her miracle and proved it that day. "Tell them about the dream, Martin." She should be sainted for that.
Perfect!
100% agree! I grew up in Alabaman and Southeast Kentucky so I am thrilled to be full circle and in the land of proper sweet tea again. Greenville is definitely a mix of long-timers and newcomers.
I grew up when Dr. King was making his mark on society, I was always confused because I had many black friends and played ball with them too, and then I moved to Mississippi....