Martin Luther King, Jr. "Key Quotes"

"In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked 'insufficient funds.'"

"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 a table of brotherhood."

"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."

"Let freedom ring. And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring — when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children — black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics - will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Have_A_Dream

This summer our family took a trip to Memphis for a baseball tournament. We decided to make time to go to the "Kings Center" and spend part of a day learning about MLK. It was one of the most remarkable days we've had as a family walking through the museum and church where Martin Luther King Jr. took over from his father, and learning about his life. Though we knew a bit about him, of course we were overwhelmed with all this man accomplished in his short life.
If you ever get a chance to go...do it! This was one of those moments in history that changed everything...and I personally think for the better. I pray we continue to "dream" and hopefully see that dream come to pass in our lifetime.