I Have a Dream (J’ai un Rève) by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

We are remembering Dr. King today on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with much gratitude for his wisdom and all he did for human kind.  He was born on January 15th, 1929 and since 1984, MLK Day is observed on the 3rd Monday of January each year.  It was almost half a decade ago that on August 28th, 1963 that Martin Luther King, Jr. made his historical speech “I Have a Dream” from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.

Dr. King’s message for peace and equality is an inspiration for all then, today and for the future generations.   Check below for one of the most moving and inspiring part of the speech in English and in French.

“I Have a Dream” by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I Have a Dream

Part of the speech delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr. on 28 August 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.

“I have a dream that one day this nation will 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.

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of “interposition” and “nullification” — one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; “and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.”

J’ai un Rève

Extrait du discours prononcé par Martin Luther King, Jr, sur les marches du Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C., le 28 août 1963

“J’ai un rève-qu’un jour, cette nation se lèvera et vivra la vrai signification de son croyance: “Nous tenons ces vérités comme allant de soi, que les hommes naissent égaux.

J’ai un rève-qu’un jour, sur les collines de terre rouge de la Géorgie, les fils des anciens esclaves et les fils des anciens propriétaires d’esclaves pourront s’asseoir ensemble à la table de la fraternité.

J’ai un rève-qu’un jour même l’etat de Mississippi, un désert étouffant d’injustice et d’oppression, sera transformé en un oasis de liberté et de justice.

J’ai un rève-que mes quatre enfants habiteront un jour une nation où ils seront jugés non pas par la couleur de leur peau, mais par le contenu de leur caractère.

J’ai un rève aujourd’hui.

J’ai un rève-qu’un jour l’état de l’Alabama, dont le gouverneur actuel parle d’interposition et de nullification, sera transformé en un endroit où des petits enfants noires pourront prendre la main des petits enfants blancs et marcher ensemble comme freres et soeurs.

J’ai un rève aujourd’hui.

J’ai un rève-qu’un jour, chaque vallée sera levée, chaque colline et montagne sera nivellé, les endroits rugueux seront lissés et les endroits tortueux seront faits droits, et la gloire du Seigneur sera révélée, et tous les hommes la verront ensemble.”