The Real Dream and Lesser Known MLK Quotes
The Real Dream and Lesser Known MLK Quotes by Sloan Nickel, JD Candidate, Class of 2023
Most people remember Martin Luther King Jr. for his peaceful protests, beautiful sermons about religion and equality, and of course, his dream for what this nation could one day be.
However, it would be dismissive to not categorize Dr. King for what he was: a revolutionary inciting quick action.
On August 28, 1963, in front of nearly 250,000 people spread across the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the Baptist preacher and civil rights leader delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
The speech comes with many quote-able moments, but the more sobering statements he made throughout his life often do not get as much attention, though they speak more to what Dr. King believed about America.
For example, Dr. King noted no one was excused from working for justice, saying, "Every man of humane convictions must decide on the protest that best suits his convictions, but we must all protest" (King, 1967a).
He also spoke out against those that could not face the idea of structural inequities: “True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring” (King, 1967a).
He called for an endless and revolutionary fight for justice saying, "Our only hope today lies in our ability to recapture the revolutionary spirit and go out into a sometimes hostile world declaring eternal hostility to poverty, racism, and militarism" (King, 1967b).
These statements may not fit into flowery print on a t-shirt or mug, but they demonstrate that Martin Luther King Jr was more than just hopeful, he was insightful, bold, and realistic about what it would take to fight racism in this country.
*You can see more quotes, images, and read more about the life and mission of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the displays on the first floor of Chastek Library. All books available for checkout*
References
King, M. L. (1967a). A Time to Break Silence. Digital History. https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtid=3&psid=3621
King, M. L. (1967b). Beyond Vietnam. The American Revolution Institute. https://www.americanrevolutioninstitute.org/asset/martin-luther-king-address-at-riverside-church-new-york-april-4-1967/
