King called for this nation to “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.” To march, to demonstrate, to demand better. There was a reason all these people were gathered together at the Capital they were being called to action. Don’t be afraid to define it there is no light without darkness. Without a problem to solve or a common enemy to battle, it’s hard to bring everyone together to share a common goal. In order to unite your audience, you have to call out what they’re fighting against. Failing to communicate the problem would have left this speech without a foundation. Without the evil of racial violence and inequality, there would be no reason for Dr. Define the ProblemĪ superhero without a villain is the same as a movement without a goal: purposeless. This is an incredibly powerful way to connect your ideas to everyday realities that everyone will understand. By sparking their imagination, you can make complex topics more digestible. Take his metaphor for the Declaration of Independence for example: “Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given its colored people a bad check, a check that has come back marked “insufficient funds.” But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt.”īy using descriptive language, metaphors and other figures of speech, you can project your message directly into the minds of your audience. He didn’t just read off a list of bullet points he used vivid language to paint a picture of possibility. King was renowned for his use of language. People can sense doubt, so don’t bring uncertainty to the podium. Whether you’re trying to execute a new strategy, explain a new direction or implement a new program, you need to have confidence in your message. Without conviction, any change you’re trying to accomplish will likely fall flat. Because he believed in the power of his cause and the beauty of a better future, the crowd of over 250,000 did as well. King’s firm belief in racial equality, civil rights and justice for all was part of what made his speech so powerful. Communication Lessons from Martin Luther King, Jr. As he once said, “People fail to get along because they fear each other they fear each other because they don’t know each other they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other.”Īs we celebrate MLK Day today, let’s take a closer look at what this man - and his speech - can teach us about communication. King knew a thing or two about the importance of communication. at the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963, this single sentence marked a defining moment in the Civil Rights Movement and became part of the most iconic speech in American history.Īs an activist and Baptist minister, Dr. “I have a dream” might just be the most quoted line in American history.

I have a dream speech text for students