Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, and died on April 4, 1968. He was an American Baptist minister, activist, humanitarian, and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience based on his Christian beliefs.
His speech, “I Have a Dream” which was delivered on 28th August, 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C. in the US, has been catalogued among the world’s hundred greatest speeches. Please find excerpts of his speech.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
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.
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of “interposition” and “nullification” — one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; “and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.”
And his dream came to pass: not only did many Blacks find their rightful places in society, but a Blackman became president of the United State of America!
Folks, like Martin Luther King, Jr., I have a dream too.
I have a dream that the economy of Ghana will grow stronger, and the cedi will continue to strengthen against major international currencies by the day; and prices of petroleum products would be reduced every fortnight with its corresponding reduction in transport fares.
With massive infrastructure going on in this country, I have a dream that soon and very soon the people of Ghana will enjoy good healthcare and abundant supply of good drinking water.
I have a dream that soon our young ones will have lucrative jobs to do.
I have a dream that dumsor will end and never occur again; and that there would be enough electricity for local consumption and for export.
With the building of 200 day Senior High Schools and the progressively free secondary education, I have a dream that leakage of BECE examination papers will never happen again; a day will come when there will be free and compulsory secondary education. In this case, students from the Junior High School will progress to the Senior High School without taking any external examination as is done from Primary School to Junior High School.
Like Martin Luther King, I also have a dream that every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together. And President Mahama’s name will go down as one of the greatest African leaders of all time.
