King on the Mountaintop

[Bozo Erectus]

Original speech too long, here it is in its entirety:

http://www.afscme.org/about/kingspch.htm

It's all right to talk about "long white robes over yonder," in all of its symbolism. But ultimately people want some suits and dresses and shoes to wear down here. It's all right to talk about "streets flowing with milk and honey," but God has commanded us to be concerned about the slums down here, and his children who can't eat three square meals a day. It's all right to talk about the new Jerusalem, but one day, God's preachers must talk about the New York, the new Atlanta, the new Philadelphia, the new Los Angeles, the new Memphis, Tennessee. This is what we have to do.

Now the other thing we'll have to do is this: Always anchor our external direct action with the power of economic withdrawal. Now, we are poor people, individually, we are poor when you compare us with white society in America. We are poor. Never stop and forget that collectively, that means all of us together, collectively we are richer than all the nations in the world, with the exception of nine. Did you ever think about that? After you leave the United States, Soviet Russia, Great Britain, West Germany, France, and I could name the others, the Negro collectively is richer than most nations of the world. We have an annual income of more than thirty billion dollars a year, which is more than all of the exports of the United States, and more than the national budget of Canada. Did you know that? That's power right there, if we know how to pool it.

We don't have to argue with anybody. We don't have to curse and go around acting bad with our words. We don't need any bricks and bottles, we don't need any Molotov cocktails, we just need to go around to these stores, and to these massive industries in our country, and say, "God sent us by here, to say to you that you're not treating his children right. And we've come by here to ask you to make the first item on your agenda fair treatment, where God's children are concerned. Now, if you are not prepared to do that, we do have an agenda that we must follow. And our agenda calls for withdrawing economic support from you."

And so, as a result of this, we are asking you tonight, to go out and tell your neighbors not to buy Coca-Cola in Memphis. Go by and tell them not to buy Sealtest milk. Tell them not to buy—what is the other bread?—Wonder Bread. And what is the other bread company, Jesse? Tell them not to buy Hart's bread. As Jesse Jackson has said, up to now, only the garbage men have been feeling pain; now we must kind of redistribute the pain. We are choosing these companies because they haven't been fair in their hiring policies; and we are choosing them because they can begin the process of saying, they are going to support the needs and the rights of these men who are on strike. And then they can move on downtown and tell Mayor Loeb to do what is right.

But not only that, we've got to strengthen black institutions. I call upon you to take your money out of the banks downtown and deposit your money in Tri-State Bank—we want a "bank-in" movement in Memphis. So go by the savings and loan association. I'm not asking you something we don't do ourselves at SCLC. Judge Hooks and others will tell you that we have an account here in the savings and loan association from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. We're just telling you to follow what we're doing. Put your money there. You have six or seven black insurance companies in Memphis. Take out your insurance there. We want to have an "insurance-in."

Now these are some practical things we can do. We begin the process of building a greater economic base. And at the same time, we are putting pressure where it really hurts. I ask you to follow through here.

Now, let me say as I move to my conclusion that we've got to give ourselves to this struggle until the end. Nothing would be more tragic than to stop at this point, in Memphis. We've got to see it through. And when we have our march, you need to be there. Be concerned about your brother. You may not be on strike. But either we go up together, or we go down together.

Let us develop a kind of dangerous unselfishness. One day a man came to Jesus; and he wanted to raise some questions about some vital matters in life. At points, he wanted to trick Jesus, and show him that he knew a little more than Jesus knew, and through this, throw him off base. Now that question could have easily ended up in a philosophical and theological debate. But Jesus immediately pulled that question from mid-air, and placed it on a dangerous curve between Jerusalem and Jericho. And he talked about a certain man, who fell among thieves. You remember that a Levite and a priest passed by on the other side. They didn't stop to help him. And finally a man of another race came by. He got down from his beast, decided not to be compassionate by proxy. But with him, administering first aid, and helped the man in need. Jesus ended up saying, this was the good man, this was the great man, because he had the capacity to project the "I" into the "thou," and to be concerned about his brother. Now you know, we use our imagination a great deal to try to determine why the priest and the Levite didn't stop. At times we say they were busy going to church meetings—an ecclesiastical gathering—and they had to get on down to Jerusalem so they wouldn't be late for their meeting. At other times we would speculate that there was a religious law that "One who was engaged in religious ceremonials was not to touch a human body twenty-four hours before the ceremony." And every now and then we begin to wonder whether maybe they were not going down to Jerusalem, or down to Jericho, rather to organize a "Jericho Road Improvement Association." That's a possibility. Maybe they felt that it was better to deal with the problem from the causal root, rather than to get bogged down with an individual effort.

But I'm going to tell you what my imagination tells me. It's possible that these men were afraid. You see, the Jericho road is a dangerous road. I remember when Mrs. King and I were first in Jerusalem. We rented a car and drove from Jerusalem down to Jericho. And as soon as we got on that road, I said to my wife, "I can see why Jesus used this as a setting for his parable." It's a winding, meandering road. It's really conducive for ambushing. You start out in Jerusalem, which is about 1200 miles, or rather 1200 feet above sea level. And by the time you get down to Jericho, fifteen or twenty minutes later, you're about 2200 feet below sea level. That's a dangerous road. In the days of Jesus it came to be known as the "Bloody Pass." And you know, it's possible that the priest and the Levite looked over that man on the ground and wondered if the robbers were still around. Or it's possible that they felt that the man on the ground was merely faking. And he was acting like he had been robbed and hurt, in order to seize them over there, lure them there for quick and easy seizure. And so the first question that the Levite asked was, "If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?" But then the Good Samaritan came by. And he reversed the question: "If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?"

That's the question before you tonight. Not, "If I stop to help the sanitation workers, what will happen to all of the hours that I usually spend in my office every day and every week as a pastor?" The question is not, "If I stop to help this man in need, what will happen to me?" "If I do not stop to help the sanitation workers, what will happen to them?" That's the question.

Let us rise up tonight with a greater readiness. Let us stand with a greater determination. And let us move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge to make America what it ought to be. We have an opportunity to make America a better nation. And I want to thank God, once more, for allowing me to be here with you.

You know, several years ago, I was in New York City autographing the first book that I had written. And while sitting there autographing books, a demented black woman came up. The only question I heard from her was, "Are you Martin Luther King?"

And I was looking down writing, and I said yes. And the next minute I felt something beating on my chest. Before I knew it I had been stabbed by this demented woman. I was rushed to Harlem Hospital. It was a dark Saturday afternoon. And that blade had gone through, and the X-rays revealed that the tip of the blade was on the edge of my aorta, the main artery. And once that's punctured, you drown in your own blood—that's the end of you.

It came out in the New York Times the next morning, that if I had sneezed, I would have died. Well, about four days later, they allowed me, after the operation, after my chest had been opened, and the blade had been taken out, to move around in the wheel chair in the hospital. They allowed me to read some of the mail that came in, and from all over the states, and the world, kind letters came in. I read a few, but one of them I will never forget. I had received one from the President and the Vice-President. I've forgotten what those telegrams said. I'd received a visit and a letter from the Governor of New York, but I've forgotten what the letter said. But there was another letter that came from a little girl, a young girl who was a student at the White Plains High School. And I looked at that letter, and I'll never forget it. It said simply, "Dear Dr. King: I am a ninth-grade student at the White Plains High School." She said, "While it should not matter, I would like to mention that I am a white girl. I read in the paper of your misfortune, and of your suffering. And I read that if you had sneezed, you would have died. And I'm simply writing you to say that I'm so happy that you didn't sneeze."

And I want to say tonight, I want to say that I am happy that I didn't sneeze. Because if I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here in 1960, when students all over the South started sitting-in at lunch counters. And I knew that as they were sitting in, they were really standing up for the best in the American dream. And taking the whole nation back to those great wells of democracy which were dug deep by the Founding Fathers in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around in 1962, when Negroes in Albany, Georgia, decided to straighten their backs up. And whenever men and women straighten their backs up, they are going somewhere, because a man can't ride your back unless it is bent. If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been here in 1963, when the black people of Birmingham, Alabama, aroused the conscience of this nation, and brought into being the Civil Rights Bill. If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have had a chance later that year, in August, to try to tell America about a dream that I had had. If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been down in Selma, Alabama, been in Memphis to see the community rally around those brothers and sisters who are suffering. I'm so happy that I didn't sneeze.

And they were telling me, now it doesn't matter now. It really doesn't matter what happens now. I left Atlanta this morning, and as we got started on the plane, there were six of us, the pilot said over the public address system, "We are sorry for the delay, but we have Dr. Martin Luther King on the plane. And to be sure that all of the bags were checked, and to be sure that nothing would be wrong with the plane, we had to check out everything carefully. And we've had the plane protected and guarded all night."

And then I got to Memphis. And some began to say the threats, or talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers?

Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.

How about you, are you worried?

Hats off to a great American

 

[Rambuchan]

Yes, a great speech indeed, shame they don't have an audio recording to stream. His delivery was what often made them.

It's always sobering to think that this all had to be said within some of our own lifetimes and in the lifetimes of the younger posters' parents.

Anyway, now that black American 'backs have been straightened' (have they really?), how about improving the posture of the rest of the world?

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Yes, a great speech indeed, shame they don't have an audio recording to stream. His delivery was what often made them.

Absolutely, he was one of the greatest orators of the century. I was looking for the recording online, just now. Not much luck, but I know its out there, I'll find it eventually.

It's always sobering to think that this all had to be said within some of our own lifetimes and in the lifetimes of the younger posters' parents.

Yep, a thousand years from now, there'll still be people struggling to be free. Its the human condition.

Anyway, now that black American 'backs have been straightened' (have they really?),

King would be very sad if he could see the state of black America today. Maybe he's lucky that he didnt have to see it.

how about improving the posture of the rest of the world?

As MLK showed, people have to see to their own posture. White people fought a war about freeing blacks, but they werent free till a hundred years later, when blacks rose up and demanded it themselves.

 

[Rambuchan]

Absolutely, he was one of the greatest orators of the century. I was looking for the recording online, just now. Not much luck, but I know its out there, I'll find it eventually.

I might even get the love smilie out if you find it. Now there's an incentive! (I'll offer the worship one as an alternative if you're not comfortable with that)

Yep, a thousand years from now, there'll still be people struggling to be free. Its the human condition.

Err we've overcome many of the so-called innate qualities of the human condition already. I don't see why this one needs to hang around for a thousand years too.

King would be very sad if he could see the state of black America today. Maybe he's lucky that he didnt have to see it.

Yeah lucky him . What elements would you say he'd be dissatisfied or sad about? I could do with an insiders view here.

As MLK showed, people have to see to their own posture. White people fought a war about freeing blacks, but they werent free till a hundred years later, when blacks rose up and demanded it themselves.

This is true. But in many cases, like sub-Saharan Africa or even parts of South America, no one has even started fighting 'that prior war' for them.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Ok, pucker up toots! Heres a Realplayer link to the whole speech:

http://www.drmartinlutherkingjr.com/ivebeentothemountaintop.htm

Err we've overcome many of the so-called innate qualities of the human condition already. I don't see why this one needs to hang around for a thousand years too.

I cant imagine a time when there isnt a group of people at the bottom of the heap, who arent happy with their condition.

What elements would you say he'd be dissatisfied or sad about? I could do with an insiders view here.

I dont know if I even want to go into it. People would start calling me racist in my own MLK thread He'd be dismayed at the direction black culture has taken. Obsessed with violence, criminality, sexual promiscuity, ignorance etc. I dont think this is what he had in mind. The 'n-word' might be dead today, if it wasnt for it being kept alive by blacks themselves.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

I Have A Dream

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, 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, 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 insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." 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. So we have come to cash this check -- 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. 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 rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. 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. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people 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. 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 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. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to distrust of all white people, 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 and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. 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. We can never 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. No, no, we are not satisfied, 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. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. 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 Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "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 the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis 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, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall 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.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom 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 a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, When we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

 

[Rambuchan]

Listening to it now darling

Do you guys know the jazz man Cannonball Adderley? His chit chat in his live sets sound much the same. "Walk Tall" is a classic example, and "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" is another.

I cant imagine a time when there isnt a group of people at the bottom of the heap, who arent happy with their condition.

Yes but there are degrees. When the Pyramids were built there existed a MASSIVE underclass with no rights whatsoever other than to break their backs for some pharoah's glorious afterlife. That's not so much the case now. I mean it's nowhere near as extreme. We can keep moving in that direction and who knows what could happen?

I dont know if I even want to go into it. People would start calling me racist in my own MLK thread He'd be dismayed at the direction black culture has taken. Obsessed with violence, criminality, sexual promiscuity, ignorance etc. I dont think this is what he had in mind. The 'n-word' might be dead today, if it wasnt for it being kept alive by blacks themselves.

Agreed actually. Sad. Very sad. But do you mean to say that MLK wouldn't have got his bling on, made a gun 'n' monay video with loads of beatches in bikinis?

 

[Tank_Guy#3]

Yes, a great speech indeed, shame they don't have an audio recording to stream. His delivery was what often made them.

It's always sobering to think that this all had to be said within some of our own lifetimes and in the lifetimes of the younger posters' parents.

I agree with you (as is usually the case). But, I believe that Americans are going to look within (our borders), once again, to improve their lives (though I should say "our" being that I am American).

Anyway, now that black American 'backs have been straightened' (have they really?), how about improving the posture of the rest of the world?

From what I've seen, only a fraction of the 'backs have be straightened'. Though I do not deny that their standard of living has increased, a good majority has not increased, or increased only slightly. And with the American way of thinking at its "best", we will try to increase the standard of living of our citizens quite a bit more before we try to help the rest of the world. So if you are expecting an outpouring of help from the United States, (I for one am sorry to say) you'll probably be holding your breath for a long, long, long, long, long time.

Many Americans are self centered and despise the thought of parting with their cash, though I'm not trying to point any fingers, I'm just saying that as an overall statement of our charitable outflowing of cash.

 

[Rambuchan]

Yes I keep forgetting that 'freedom' means the freedom to horde wealth at another's expense.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

But do you mean to say that MLK wouldn't have got his bling on, made a gun 'n' monay video with loads of beatches in bikinis?

I think he'd be just as revolted as anyone by the illiterate, violent, misogynistic 'thug' mentality thats hijacked black culture. The rap music industry is mostly about depicting and spreading every negative black stereotype that ever existed. Theres no great black leader to speak out against it, like King would have done.

 

[Rambuchan]

Just out of curiosity, who are the prominent and respectable black figure heads in the US at present? The Reverend Jesse is still around but I really have trouble thinking of others in that league.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Thats the problem, theres just Jackson and Sharpton. Dont get me wrong, Im sure there are alot of local leaders out there doing good work, but those two hustlers have the national name recognition. Neither is worthy of being mentioned in the same sentence as MLK, and thats putting it mildly.

 

[The Yankee]

I think he'd be just as revolted as anyone by the illiterate, violent, misogynistic 'thug' mentality thats hijacked black culture. The rap music industry is mostly about depicting and spreading every negative black stereotype that ever existed. Theres no great black leader to speak out against it, like King would have done.

I think he'd be equally disappointed by many of the "black" leaders we have today. Sadly, they do not compare to MLK or even a peaceful, post-Hajj Malcolm X.

Local leaders may be pushing for a few things, but there would need to be a national movement again. And this "Millions More" or whatever movement they wanted or had done isn't going to cut it.

 

[The Yankee]

Thats the problem, theres just Jackson and Sharpton. Dont get me wrong, Im sure there are alot of local leaders out there doing good work, but those two hustlers have the national name recognition. Neither is worthy of being mentioned in the same sentence as MLK, and thats putting it mildly.

Don't forget Farrakhan...who's old news by now, but still...

 

[The Yankee]

Just out of curiosity, who are the prominent and respectable black figure heads in the US at present? The Reverend Jesse is still around but I really have trouble thinking of others in that league.

You'll still have the NAACP, and I think they got a new President recently. However, it seems they don't have the clout that they might have had in years past.

 

[nonconformist]

Sorry to come in here slightly offtopic, but wasn't Robert Kennedy killed jsut before the "I Have a Dream" speech?

 

[The Yankee]

Sorry to come in here slightly offtopic, but wasn't Robert Kennedy killed jsut before the "I Have a Dream" speech?

About two months after MLK was assassinated, IIRC. 1968 was a turbulent year in the US and around the world.

 

[nonconformist]

Hmm. I was under the impression Kennedy was killed before his speech, and he made reference to it.

 

[nonconformist]

*Slaps head*
It was vice-versa. Kennedy learned of King's assasination, and made reference to it in a speech.