Martin Luther King Jr. (1929 - 1968)
King at his hotel shortly before his assassination
The MLK memorial in Washington DC
April 3rd 1968: King’s last speech
On this day in 1968, the American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. made his last speech, the day before his assassination. The Baptist minister from Georgia first came to national attention for his leadership of the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955, which attempted to desegregate buses in the city. This event is considered by many the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement, which saw a national effort to end discrimination against African-Americans. King was one of many leaders, but became the face of the movement for his non-violent tactics and powerful oratory. In 1963, during the March on Washington, King delivered the crowning speech of the struggle - the ‘I have a dream’ speech. Beyond his role in combating racial inequality, King also focused on tackling poverty and advocating peace, especially during the Vietnam War. In April 1968, King visited Memphis in solidarity with striking sanitation workers. It was at the Mason Temple in this city that he delivered his ‘I’ve Been to the Mountaintop’ speech, widely considered one of the finest of his long career. The very next day, King was assassinated at his Memphis hotel by James Earl Ray. His final speech was remarkably prophetic, as he appeared to acknowledge he would not live long, and invoked the Biblical story of Moses, who led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. Moses died before he could enter the Promised Land, though God allowed him to view it from atop Mount Nebo before he died. Though King didn’t know it, he too died before he saw his dream come to fruition, and since his death comparisons between the civil rights leader and Biblical prophet have abounded.
”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.”
