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Martin Luther King, Jr.: Speeches

A research guide on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Speech Transcripts

Books & Films: Check Out at McKee Library

A Call to Conscience

This collection includes the text of Dr. King's best-known oration, "I Have a Dream, " his acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize, and "Beyond Vietnam, " a compelling argument for ending the ongoing conflict. Each speech has an insightful introduction on the current relevance of Dr. King's words by such renowned defenders of civil rights as Rosa Parks, the Dalai Lama, and Ambassador Andrew Young, among others.

Behind the Dream

"I have a dream." When those words were spoken on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963, the crowd stood, electrified, as Martin Luther King, Jr. brought the plight of African Americans to the public consciousness and firmly established himself as one of the greatest orators of all time.Behind the Dreamis a thrilling, behind-the-scenes account of the weeks leading up to the great event, as told by Clarence Jones, co-writer of the speech and close confidant to King. Jones was there, on the road, collaborating with the great minds of the time, and hammering out the ideas and the speech that would shape the civil rights movement and inspire Americans for years to come.

All Labor Has Dignity

An unprecedented and timely collection of Dr. King's speeches on labor rights and economic justice People forget that Dr. King was every bit as committed to economic justice as he was to ending racial segregation. He fought throughout his life to connect the labor and civil rights movements, envisioning them as twin pillars for social reform. As we struggle with massive unemployment, a staggering racial wealth gap, and the near collapse of a financial system that puts profits before people, King's prophetic writings and speeches underscore his relevance for today. They help us imagine King anew- as a human rights leader whose commitment to unions and an end to poverty was a crucial part of his civil rights agenda. Covering all the civil rights movement highlights-Montgomery, Albany, Birmingham, Selma, Chicago, and Memphis-award-winning historian Michael K. Honey introduces and traces King's dream of economic equality. Gathered in one volume for the first time, the majority of these speeches will be new to most readers. The collection begins with King's lectures to unions in the 1960s and includes his addresses during his Poor People's Campaign, culminating with his momentous "Mountaintop" speech, delivered in support of striking black sanitation workers in Memphis. Unprecedented and timely, "All Labor Has Dignity" will more fully restore our understanding of King's lasting vision of economic justice, bringing his demand for equality right into the present.

The Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Presents a collection of Martin Luther King's major speeches and minor asides, tracing the development of his oratorical style.
Please note: this collection is on VHS.

Martin Luther King, Jr: We Shall Overcome

This historical compilation features highlights of major speeches given by the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Source: Kanopy

Martin Luther King, Jr: I Have A Dream

This historical compilation features highlights of major speeches given by the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Source: Kanopy

Martin Luther King, Jr: Been To The Mountaintop

Seen and heard in this original footage are the highlights of dramatic speeches and coversations spanning 1956 to 1968, including his last address on April 3, 1968, the night before his assassination in Memphis, Tennessee.

Source: Kanopy