Today's Article
'Let us move on in
these powerful days,
these days of
challenge, to make
America what it ought
to be,' said Dr. King in
his last public speech.
these powerful days,
these days of
challenge, to make
America what it ought
to be,' said Dr. King in
his last public speech.
The American Spark
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Revisiting King's Last Speech
By Cliff Montgomery - Jan. 19th, 2009
This day both commemorates the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and is the eve of the inauguration for
America's first black president, Barack Obama. On this historic moment, The American Spark offers a major
section of Dr. King's final public speech, delivered on April 3rd, 1968, at Mason Temple (Church of God in
Christ Headquarters), in Memphis, Tennessee.
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?" 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're drowned 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 merely 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. [...]
[One letter] 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,
And I want to say tonight--I want to say tonight that I too 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 here in 1961, when we decided to take a ride for freedom and
ended segregation in inter-state travel.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here 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--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, to see the great Movement there.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been in Memphis to see a 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. [...]
[As I flew into Memphis from Atlanta,] 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 really 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 so 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!!
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark e-
newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
By Cliff Montgomery - Jan. 19th, 2009
This day both commemorates the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and is the eve of the inauguration for
America's first black president, Barack Obama. On this historic moment, The American Spark offers a major
section of Dr. King's final public speech, delivered on April 3rd, 1968, at Mason Temple (Church of God in
Christ Headquarters), in Memphis, Tennessee.
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?" 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're drowned 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 merely 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. [...]
[One letter] 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.
- While it should not matter, I would like to mention that I'm 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 tonight that I too 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 here in 1961, when we decided to take a ride for freedom and
ended segregation in inter-state travel.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here 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--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, to see the great Movement there.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been in Memphis to see a 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. [...]
[As I flew into Memphis from Atlanta,] 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 really 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 so 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!!
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark e-
newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
Wait, why does an
independent news source
run advertisements? The
Spark answers in its
advertising policy.
independent news source
run advertisements? The
Spark answers in its
advertising policy.
* Please check out our ads--they
help keep this news site running.
Thanks!
help keep this news site running.
Thanks!