Iam mindful that only yesterday in birmingham, alabama,
our children, crying out for brotherhood, were answered
with fire hoses, snarling dogs and even death. i am mindful
that only yesterday in philadelphia, mississippi, young
people seeking to secure the right to vote were brutalized
and murdered. and only yesterday more than 40 houses of
worship in the state of mississippi alone were bombed or
burned because they offered a sanctuary to those who
would not accept segregation. i am mindful that
debilitating and grinding poverty afflicts my people and
chains them to the lowest rung of the economic ladder.
-- martin luther king jr., nobel prize acceptance speech,
1964
why does king begin his nobel prize acceptance speech with examples of
recent racial violence in the united states?

King begins his nobel prize acceptance speech with examples of recent racial violence in the US in lrder to show that the fight for freedom from oppression is not over.

each year on this day, i make it a point to listen to dr. martin luther king jr.’s great “i have a dream” speech. it’s electrifying every single time.

the content of dr. king’s speech, his inspiring presence, and the moment in history all came together to make the iconic “i have a dream” speech the defining moment of the american civil rights movement. but there are several other reasons why this speech, delivered over 50 years ago, remains an example of one of the best speeches in american history.

since part of my job is to people become better presenters, i’ve noticed several techniques that we can all learn from and be inspired by in this magnificent speech.

it’s anchored in a powerful related location

in most cases, you can’t handpick the spot to give a presentation, as mlk did for supreme symbolic effect when he stood on the steps of the lincoln memorial and echoed the opening words of the gettysburg address (“five score years ago . . ). but you absolutely can amplify your message by adapting it to your setting and location.