The man behind Martin Luther King

For years, I have heard, listened and read the “I have a dream speech” or at least the powerful fragment (I bet that most people haven’t heard the full 17-minute speech) and it is a masterpiece I would never contradict that. However, for a long time I have been wondering why is it that something as simple as having a dream, something as ordinary as dreaming, something so habitual in everyday life, became something so revolutionary.

How many of us had said “I have a dream” at least once in our lifetime? Everyone!  And why that sentence pronounced in our voice is not as powerful?

It’s because we are not Martin Luther King? Because our dreams are too selfish or not big enough?

Today I read this letter written by Martin Luther King (it is worth reading the full letter):

One night toward the end of January I settled into bed late, after a strenuous day. Coretta had already fallen asleep and just as I was about to doze off the telephone rang. An angry voice said, "Listen, nigger, we've taken all we want from you; before next week you'll be sorry you ever came to Montgomery." I hung up, but I couldn't sleep. It seemed that all of my fears had come down on me at once. I had reached the saturation point.

I got out of bed and began to walk the floor. I had heard these things before, but for some reason that night it got to me. I turned over and I tried to go to sleep, but I couldn't sleep. I was frustrated, bewildered, and then I got up. Finally, I went to the kitchen and heated a pot of coffee. I was ready to give up. (…) I got to the point that I couldn't take it any longer. I was weak.

For the first time, I saw a man like me. I saw a man so human that was aiming to give up, a man so human that acknowledged his weaknesses, a man so human that was aiming to quit.

Suddenly, I realized it wasn’t about the dream.

I am sure that many before him have had the same dream, I am sure that many have had the courage to even speak up about that dream...

However, Martin Luther King had the dream, said the dream and was truly committed to it.