I Have a Dream 1

(they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. )

they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir.

(This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, )

This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men,

(would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." )

would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

(It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, )

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note,

(insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. )

insofar as her citizens of color are concerned.

(Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, )

Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check,

(a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." )

a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

(But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. )

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt.

(We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. )

We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation.

(And so, we've come to cash this check, )

And so, we've come to cash this check,

(a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. )

a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

(We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. )

We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now.

(This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. )

This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism.

(Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. )

Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy.

(Now is the time to rise from the dark )

Now is the time to rise from the dark

(and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. )

and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice.

(Now is the time )

Now is the time

(to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. )

to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.

(Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children. )

Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

(It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. )

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment.

(This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent )

This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent

(will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. )

will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality.

(Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. )

Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning.

(And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam )

And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam

(and will now be content will have a rude awakening )

and will now be content will have a rude awakening

(if the nation returns to business as usual. )

if the nation returns to business as usual.

(And there will be neither rest nor tranquility )

And there will be neither rest nor tranquility

(in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. )

in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights.

(The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations )

The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations

(of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges. )

of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

(But there is something that I must say to my people, )

But there is something that I must say to my people,

(who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: )

who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice:

(In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. )

In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds.

(Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. )

Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

(We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. )

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline.

(We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. )

We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence.

(Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. )

Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.

(The marvelous new militancy )

The marvelous new militancy

(which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, )

which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people,

(for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, )

for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today,

(have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. )

have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny.

(And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. )

And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.

(We cannot walk alone. )

We cannot walk alone.

(And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. )

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.

(We cannot turn back. )

We cannot turn back.

(There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, )

There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights,

("When will you be satisfied?" )

"When will you be satisfied?"

(We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim )

We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim

(of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. )

of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality.

(We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, )

We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel,

(cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. )

cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities.

(We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro's basic mobility )

We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro's basic mobility

(is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. )

is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one.

(We can never be satisfied as long as our children )

We can never be satisfied as long as our children

(are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by a sign stating: "For Whites Only." )

are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by a sign stating: "For Whites Only."

(We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote )

We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote

(and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. )

and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote.

(No, no, we are not satisfied, )

No, no, we are not satisfied,

(and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream. )

and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.

(I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. )

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations.

(Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. )

Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells.

(And some of you have come from areas )

And some of you have come from areas

(where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered )

where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered

(by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. )

by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality.

(You have been the veterans of creative suffering. )

You have been the veterans of creative suffering.

(Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. )

Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

(Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, )

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina,

(go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, )

go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana,

(go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, )

go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities,

(knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. )

knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.