Today marks 54 years since Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream.” speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial and while we have undoubtedly made significant strides towards that dream, the divisions that remain seem more visible than ever.
Of course, while we must acknowledge those differences to bridge those divides, remembering our commonalities is also more important than ever. As MLK said himself, “Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.”
So as we start this week, I can think of no better motivation than the inspiring, unifying words of this great man.
“We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back.”
“Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.”
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up, live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'”
Sorry, reflex, but the message is clear, universal, and timeless. There’s only one way forward, and it’s together.
Full Transcript of MLK’s “I Have a Dream” Speech