I just missed the anniversary of the I Have a Dream speech. I usually write something about it. I still could. Judging a person by the content of their character is noble and right. Judging by the color of their skin is neither. The racial divide appears greater today than in previous years.
Regarding the speech, the “Dream” was rejected by a close adviser to the King. It was thought to be trite. Here’s basically what happened. One of King’s close advisers and speechwriter thought the “I Have a Dream” wording was too overused. He advised against it, instead keeping the focus on economic justice and systemic inequality. A well-known gospel singer encouraged it, so in a way, you could say an essential part of one of the most important speeches in history was ad-libbed.
Here’s basically what happened. During the speech, gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, who was standing nearby, may have been bored; she reportedly urged King, “Tell them about the dream, Martin!” King had used the “I Have a Dream” theme in earlier sermons and speeches.
So, King deviated from his prepared speech. The specific phrase “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” was part of the improvised version, meaning it was ad-libbed, as was a great deal of the speech.
How do I know all of this? I like history, but there’s more. Well, here’s the background on it. I usually write about my family taking me to Gettysburg in 1964. It’s a trip I recommend for everyone. As we were leaving, my parents said I could get two items from the gift shop.
At eleven, going on twelve, I eyed the bullets found on the battlefield, or facsimiles more likely. But I saw three parchment-type documents in the area where books were for sale. One was the Gettysburg Address, the second was John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address, and the third was King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. I decided I wanted all three, but I was limited to two. My parents probably would have sprung for the third, but kids tended to do what their parents said back then.
I knew who JFK was. I remember the aftermath of the Bay of Pigs, the Cuban Missile Crisis, a time scarier for my parents than me. I understood little about nuclear bombs except that I was safe at school if I bent forward with my head under my desk. Today I understand the lie; it was my vaporization position.
I knew who King was because once, when we were on vacation, King was leading a march, and roads were shut down for travel. So, we, like everyone else, sat in our vehicle and waited for the parade to move past, allowing the road to reopen. I’ve always told people it was Georgia, but I’m unsure today.
After reading the three, I chose the JFK address and the MLK “I Have a Dream” speech. When I got home, I framed each to hang in my bedroom. I still have both in the original frames I bought.
I’m awed by the dreams expressed in the final minutes of the speech. There were five, most everyone recalls one, “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.” Again, it’s noble and right. Judging by the color of their skin is neither. But the racial divide appears greater today than in previous years, and is getting worse.
Courts of late are looking to merit, as MLK spoke of. This comes now after the Biden years, a nightmare at the time, are becoming just a bad dream, but still with consequences.
