A HAUNTING SPEECH
BY DAN MILLER
April 3, 2006
Thirty-eight years ago, words were spoken that -- even today -- give me chills when I hear or read them.
The words were spoken to a relatively small crowd of some 2,000 people gathered at the Mason Temple in Memphis.
It was April 3rd, 1968, the eve of a planned march in support of Memphis sanitation workers.
It was also the eve of Martin Luther King's assassination.
The last few sentences of the speech Dr. King delivered that night are astounding:
Well, I don't know what will happen now.
We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now.
Because I've been to the mountaintop.
And I don't mind.
Like anybody, I would like to live a long life.
Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now.
I just want to do God's will.
And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain.
And I've looked over, and I've seen the promised land.
I may not get there with you.
But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land.
And so I'm happy tonight.
I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man.
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.
Dr. King then left the church, and returned to the Lorraine Motel to rest.
He felt certain the next day was to be busy and difficult.
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