One hundred years after Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation that freed African American slaves, Martin Luther King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. This speech ranks as one of the most famous addresses in American history.
As a child in the sixties, I never studied the Civil Rights Era in school. Rather, I lived during it. I saw news reports, listened to the radio, and read the paper. As a northerner, from a distance I felt the tension and saw the idealism of this noble cause. But I never heard this famous speech in its entirety.
Yesterday I read the complete text. I marveled at the colorful imagery of this powerful and poetic work. I believe the secret to Martin Luther King’s success lies hidden within his words. Here is my take on what we can learn from his speech about how to make dreams come true:
- Make sure you have a godly plan. See how it fits in God’s plan for you.
Martin Luther King said, “Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all God’s children. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.” Hidden within these words are godly principles. Jesus said to love one another as I have loved you. This is how brotherhood forms. God is a just God. He loves all men regardless of color. We are all fearfully and wonderfully made in His eyes.
2. Take the high road of love, forgiveness, and righteousness.
Martin Luther King said, “In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not satisfy our thirst for freedom from the cup of bitterness and hatred….We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline.”
3. Work to make it come true. Dreams aren’t passive.
Be willing to make difficult choices. When addressing those who had suffered injustice, discrimination, and imprisonment, Martin Luther King said, “continue to work with the fact that unearned suffering is redemptive.” This is the essence of Christianity. We do not suffer for righteousness’ sake in vain.
4. Picture the Positive Result.
Martin Luther King spoke forth what his dream would look like. “I have a dream that my four 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.”
Martin Luther King saw the value of principles in scriptures that seemed to speak of the future. He knew they had value in the here and now. He quoted Isaiah 40: 4-5 : “I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain 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.”
He ended his speech by quoting a Negro spiritual: “Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, free at last.”
We can all share in this dream.