I Have a Dream
I Have a Dream
Book Brief
Beta126
Book • Nonfiction
Washington, D.C. • 1960s
2022
Adult
14+ years
Super Short Summary
In the speech "I Have a Dream," Martin Luther King Jr. envisions a future of equality and freedom for individuals, where people are judged by their character rather than their skin color. Delivered during the 1963 March on Washington, King emphasizes unity and justice, inspiring hope for a nation where all individuals experience the same rights and opportunities.
Inspirational
Hopeful
Emotional
Romantic
Heartwarming
Reviews & Readership
99 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
I Have a Dream is lauded for its profound impact on the civil rights movement and its eloquent expression of equality and justice. Reviewers praise King's rhetorical skill and emotional appeal, noting the speech’s enduring relevance. Some critics highlight the challenge of translating its spoken power to the written word, yet its message remains powerful and inspiring.
Who Should Read I Have a Dream?
A reader captivated by social justice, civil rights, and transformative rhetoric would relish I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King Jr. Fans of The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin or The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois would similarly appreciate its profound call for equality and human rights.
99 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
The phrase "I have a dream" was not part of the original speech script; Martin Luther King Jr. improvised it after gospel singer Mahalia Jackson prompted him to "tell them about the dream."
The iconic speech was delivered during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963, to more than 250,000 civil rights supporters from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
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King's "I Have a Dream" speech was ranked the top American speech of the 20th century in a 1999 poll conducted by scholars of public address.
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126
Book • Nonfiction
Washington, D.C. • 1960s
2022
Adult
14+ years
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