I have a dream. I say to you, my friends, so even though we must face the difficulties of
today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
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.
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, sons of former slaves and sons of
former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day, even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat
of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom
and justice.I have a dream my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not
be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his
lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, one day right there in Alabama
little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls
as sisters and brothers; I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made
low, the rough places shall be made plain, and the crooked places shall be made straight and
the glory of the Lord will be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with.
With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this
faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony
of brotherhood.