六 10-7 I Have A Dream

I Have A Dream

I Have A Dream

So I say to you ,my friends, that even though we must face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed1: 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, sons of former slaves and sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood2.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice3, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis4 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 today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted5, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked6 places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew7 out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords8 of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to go to jail together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with new meaning.

My country, ’ tis of thee,

Sweet land of liberty,

Of thee I sing:

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrims’ pride,

From every mountainside

Let freedom ring.

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true.