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Whose Speech Is "I Have a Dream"?

civil rightsspeeches

Quick Answer

Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the "I Have a Dream" speech on August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington.

The Full Story

Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech on August 28, 1963, from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., before an estimated 250,000 people gathered for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The speech's most famous passage — the "I have a dream" refrain — was largely improvised. Gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, standing nearby, reportedly called out "Tell them about the dream, Martin!" prompting King to depart from his prepared text. The speech is widely regarded as one of the greatest in American history and helped build momentum for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. King received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

Key Facts

1.The March on Washington was organized by A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin in just two months
2.King's prepared text did not include the "I have a dream" sequence — it was spoken extemporaneously
3.The speech lasted approximately 17 minutes and was broadcast live on national television

YouTube Angle

Suggested video title for this topic:

"The improvised moment that made history — how Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream changed America"