Course Description:

Those who rank the most influential speeches of all time consistently place “I Have a Dream” as one of the most powerful orations of history. But what else did Martin Luther King, Jr. say? As an icon of the civil rights movement, he spoke in public almost constantly. Which of these other speeches really characterize his worldview and his movement? What kind of impact did these speeches have? In this series of lectures, we’ll go beyond “I Have a Dream” to really examine both Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speaking style and his principles that he discussed in his speeches––ultimately coming to understand what made him such a powerful orator.

Topic Outline/Schedule:

Week 1, January 26: Early Life and Letter from a Birmingham Jail

Week 2, February 2: I Have a Dream and the Final Speech