When the Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered the âI Have a Dreamâ? speech in August, 1963, the "I Have a Dream" section wasnât part of the prepared text. Thereâs a story behind that and most everything about the speech, the march on Washington that attracted some 250,000 people and the movement behind both. Joining us today is Clarence Jones, an advisor to Dr. King. and one of his speech writers. Jones helped draft the "I Have a Dream" speech and stood just a few yards from King as he delivered the address that day. Mr. Jones is a Scholar in Residence and Visiting Professor at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research & Education Institute at Stanford University and his latest book, âBehind The Dream: Inside the Speech That Transformed a Nationâ? was published in January. In it, he provides a never before disclosed, first person 72-hour narrative description of inside the organization of the March On Washington For Jobs and Freedom, and Dr. Kingâs preparation and delivery of his âI Have A Dream Speechâ? on August 28th, 1963. Jones will be giving a lecture on Wednesday, April 20, at 7 p.m. at The Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts in New Albany.
Watch: Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" Speech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbUtL_0vAJk
Read More:
- Behind The Dream (Christian Science Monitor)
- Interview: Clarence B Jones on The Best Speeches of All Time (The Browser)
- Behind the Dream: The Making of the Speech that Transformed a Nation (Amazon.com)