Speaker’s background knowledge: for martin luther king i have a dream speech

Martin Luther King Jr. was a famous civil rights activist in America during the 1950's and 1960's. Before becoming an American icon, King was a baptist minister at a small church. However, he began to gain national prominence as he aligned himself with national organizations such as the NAACP. Martin Luther King Jr. uses his personal experiences and beliefs in order to craft this speech about what he hopes to see in American society one day. This speech revolves around the central message that one day African-Americans will not be judged by their race, but rather their actions/characteristics.