The following are the final public words of American civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther King Jr. They were delivered at the end of a speech in support of striking sanitation workers at Mason Temple in Memphis, TN on 3 April 1968 — the day before he was assassinated:
“Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter with me now. Because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”
Dr King was born on 15 January 1929. And, even though America celebrates his birthday, today is a national holiday in honour of Dr King’s political legacy. Of course, the broad outline of this legacy is well-known around the world. But for a little more insight, I recommend this BBC perspective on his leadership, this previous article on one of the more controversial traits of his dynamic character and this Washington Post report on the King family squabbles that threaten to undermine his legacy more than J. Edgar Hoover could have imagined….
Technorati: Martin Luther King Jr, national holiday
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