White America must recognize that justice for Black people cannot be achieved without radical changes in the structure of our society. Here, King cites the second sentence of the Declaration of Independence (“we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal”) as a description of the creed, or core belief, of the United States. A creed is “any system or codification of belief or of opinion.” Creed is most often used to describe a religious system of belief. In this quote, King references the creed of the United States. quotes most people are familiar with is from the “I Have a Dream” speech, which was given during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963. 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.” It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. We are going to look at some of Martin Luther King’s most enduring quotes and break down what the key terms mean. It is also an excellent opportunity to revisit the words of the man himself. Day.įor many people, Martin Luther King Jr.

However, its passage was hotly contested, and it wasn’t until 2000 that all 50 states observed Martin Luther King Jr. In 1983, the third Monday of January was declared Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, a federal holiday, in recognition of his importance in the civil rights movement. His speeches and essays continue to inspire people today to fight for racial and economic equality. (1929-1968) was a civil rights leader and Baptist minister who not only organized for change but importantly inspired the movement with his forceful and captivating language.

Martin luther king jr quotes