Martin Luther King Jr

There is only one holiday in honor of a preacher, so I can’t let MLK Day go by without a comment. As Martin Luther King, Jr. Day approaches, I get into the mood by listening to his speeches and sermons.

Of course, everyone has heard sound bites from the King’s most famous speech, “I Have a Dream,” delivered from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC and the famous sound bite, “I have a dream that my four 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.” But, few listen to the entire speech, which might better be called the “Cashing a Check” speech. There are other great speeches, sermons and interviews that deserve to be seen and heard.

I’ve compiled a Youtube Playlist of a few favorites, followed by the entire “I Have a Dream” speech. Finally, you can see a 2004 interview with Jesse Jackson, in conversation with Michael Eric Dyson, moderated by Tukufu Zuberi.

Be sure you get to the end where Jesse Jackson talks about a Christmas day speech to inmates of Cook County Jail.

Jesse Jackson: Will you help me close down this jail?

Inmates: (shouting) Yeah!

Jesse Jackson: Here’s what you do – Don’t come back no more!

My point is, we have the power to stop recidivism. There is a prison industrial complex. But there is also the responsibility to make choices…I cannot avoid being responsible. I cannot avoid being responsible.

I have the right to fight for the right.
I must sharpen my tools to win the fight

I invite you to celebrate MLK Day by watching these videos.
Here’s a manuscript of the entire Dream speech.