by Robert Wilkinson
Today would have been the 96th birthday of a true American hero and icon for the ages, the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Regardless of his human flaws, he was one of the giants of all times. Today we remember that voice with videos of Martin doing his sacred work, all of his most important speeches, and some awesome documentaries at the bottom.
An electrifying orator, the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was a powerful voice for human rights. He came from a higher plane and with consistent conscience spoke to the "better angels of our nature," to use a term given to us by the Great Emancipator. While he was far from perfect, who among us can say we've done better to inspire several generations to aspire to a better way?
This remarkable man was the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. He was awarded it in 1964 for his work to end racial segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other nonviolent means. He came to his philosophy of non-violence through his mentor Howard Thurman, the noted civil rights leader, theologian, and educator who had studied under Mahatma Gandhi and encouraged another MLK mentor, Benjamin Mays, also to study with Gandhi.
Here are some of his more memorable speeches. Some are footage of him speaking, others his speech with still photos. They're all pretty remarkable.
Here’s the earliest speech I could find. He was 27 when he gave this 42 minute speech at the Holt St. Baptist Church during the Montgomery bus boycott on November 14, 1956. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Address During the Montgomery Bus Boycott
Here’s another one which bubbled to the surface this year. He was 28 when he gave this 40 minute speech at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery on November 17, 1957. "Love Your Enemies”
After the 4 minute intro, here’s the 64 minute speech from August 1958 in Schreveport titled “The Speech at Galilee”
Found just 5 years ago, here’s a "lost speech" MLK gave in NYC in 1962. ”A Promise Unfulfilled” - MLK 1962 Speech in NYC
Here's what he's most famous for, the full version of Martin Luther King on film delivering his 1963 "I have a dream" speech.
Here's an interesting historical debate. This is a well-edited “debate” between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King. Malcolm attacked the strategy of non-violent resistance as powerless , while Martin makes a distinction between non-resistance and non-violent resistance.
The Debate Between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King
Last year I had the video of the entire March 25, 1965 Montgomery AL speech titled “Our God is Marching On.” This year the whole clip is nowhere to be found. But I did find an audio-only version, cut into 6 short parts. From the tumultuous year 1965, here is
Martin Luther King, Jr. and "Our God Is Marching On!" Pt. 1 Martin Luther King, Jr. and "Our God Is Marching On!" Pt. 2 Martin Luther King, Jr. and "Our God Is Marching On!" Pt. 3 Martin Luther King, Jr. and "Our God Is Marching On!" Pt. 4 Martin Luther King, Jr. and "Our God Is Marching On!" Pt. 5 Martin Luther King, Jr. and "Our God Is Marching On!" Pt. 6Here's a much shorter clip of Martin Luther King in Montgomery, Alabama on March 25, 1965 doing How Long? Not Long!
Here’s the entire speech in text form: “Our God Is Marching On” – Montgomery Alabama 1965
In a 1965 speech King explained the reasons why he believed "we shall overcome" in similar terms he used in a 1957 speech to support his belief in "an other-loving God working forever through history for the establishment of His kingdom." Here's "We Shall Overcome."
From an unknown time, a clip I've titled "I’m Black and I’m Beautiful” – “We don't have anything to be ashamed of"
Here’s a gem! Taped just after the March on Selma, here’s 25 minutes of pure gold!
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on NBC’s Meet The Press in 1965”
By the time of his death in 1968, he had refocused his efforts on ending poverty and stopping the Vietnam War. From April 4, 1967 in Harlem, Martin Luther King, Jr. on War.This one is a "must listen!" Here is an audio-only sermon at the Ebenezer Baptist Church on April 30, 1967, where Martin Luther King Jr. speaks out against the Vietnam War. In it he outlines why war devastates the poor as well as all of us, and why globalism, with its economic exploitation, militarism, and inherent racism, breeds poverty, injustice, and hate. Very powerful! (This awesome 23 minute speech was released by Black Forum records and won a Grammy in 1970 for the Best Spoken Word Recording.)
One of his more famous speeches was given on August 16, 1967. It went 40 minutes. Here's the remarkable "Why Jesus Called A Man A Fool," also known as "A Knock at Midnight,"
From 1967, a rare “lost” speech given at the Pacifica National Conference for New Politics! Martin Luther King – “The Three Evils of Society"
From his final weeks, here are three more amazing pieces:
On February 4, 1968, in Atlanta, Georgia, he gave us a 39 minute sermon titled "The Drum Major Instinct"
Then the speech that he gave in 1968 on behalf of the Memphis Sanitation workers striking for their rights that broke major ground: "I Am A Man." You can find more about this important moment in the civil rights movement at this Stanford link.
One of the more powerful short videos I've ever seen, from April 3, 1968, here's Martin Luther King's Prophetic Last speech - Remember.
If you want to listen to the entire speech, here's Martin Luther King's last speech. It's a more complete audio version of King's last speech. This is a counterpoint to the assertion that King's speeches were not the catalyst for real actions and change. These real accomplishments are enumerated by MLK himself and obviously would not have occurred “...if I had sneezed."
And now, the sad part. From Indianapolis, Indiana, here's the video of Robert Kennedy announces death of Martin Luther King, Jr. (not knowing he’d also be assassinated by the same men in the grey suits just a few weeks later.)
Here are 2 merged clips of the April 4, 1968, CBS broadcasts of Dan Rather breaking the news that MLK had been shot, along with the CBS evening news report with Walter Cronkite
And now some historical reflection and documentaries about the life of this remarkable man for the ages!
Four years ago I found an amazing 3 hour film From 1970 titled King: A Filmed Record… Montgomery to Memphis, but that long clip has vanished. However, I did find this one hour 45 version, so enjoy! King – A Filmed Record
It’s gone again. The 2 hour and 3 film titled Citizen King has disappeared. However, I found this link which will take you to parts 3 through 11 in the 13 parts of Citizen King
It’s back! This is a remarkable 81 minute 2011 PBS special American Experience – Roads to Memphis
Unfortunately, the excellent hour and 53 piece titled Dick Gregory – The Truth About Who Assassinated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr is gone.
That said, I did find this gem! This is a great offering by one of the great Americans of the 20th century. It’s an hour and 21 of Dick Gregory shooting straight at Washington and Lee University. Dick Gregory Addresses W&L's MLK Celebration
This year, I found this 27 minute 1977 Thursday Night Special from ABC featuring Dick Gregory, Geraldo Rivera, and Mark Lane titled Who Killed Martin Luther King?
Last year I had a 47 minute piece titled Dick Gregory – The Truth About Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. which I suspect was a piece of the longer documentary above, but this year it’s disappeared. For a shorter 8+ minute piece taken from a different interview, here’s Dick Gregory - "Operation Lantern Spike" (MLK Assassination)
The hour and 21 documentary titled The Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, has disappeared.
Here’s 43 minutes titled Searching For the Promised Land
Now, a full hour titled Dr. Martin Luther King - A Historical Perspective
In a final nod to one of the greatest Americans to grace our country, here's one of the most beautiful and poignant songs ever written. For your remembrance from 1968, a live tv performance of the original "Abraham, Martin, and John" done by the legendary Dion DiMucci.
"...Didn't you love the things that they stood for?
Didn't they try to find some good for you and me?
And we'll be free
Some day soon, and it's a-gonna be one day
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up over the hill
With Abraham, Martin, and John”
1968 was a lousy year when some very decent people got shot for their troubles by the pawns of the gray men in the shadows. Unfortunately, it still goes on to this day. May all sentient Beings be delivered from violence, racism, hatred, fear, poverty and injustice as soon as possible.
© Copyright 2025 Robert Wilkinson
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