Sermons and speeches of Martin Luther King Jr. facts for kids

Martin Luther King Jr. at the podium on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in August 1963

The sermons and speeches of Martin Luther King Jr. are a huge collection of his writings and talks. Some of them are famous all over the world, while others are less known.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a very important African-American preacher. He was a main leader in the Civil Rights Movement. He even won the Nobel Peace Prize.

King once said that deep down, he was always a Baptist preacher.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s Powerful Words

Martin Luther King Jr. was an amazing speaker. He used his words to inspire people and fight for fairness. He gave many speeches and sermons throughout his life.

Famous Speeches and Sermons

One of his most famous speeches was "I Have a Dream". He gave it in August 1963. This speech happened on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. But even before that, when he was a young 25-year-old pastor, he started preaching. This was at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1954.

King grew as a leader and a preacher. He used his words to talk about important ideas. One of his first sermons was "The Three Dimensions of a Complete Life." He first preached this in 1954. He continued to preach it every year for the rest of his life.

Key Sermons

Here are some of Martin Luther King Jr.'s important sermons:

• 1953 – "The Three Dimensions of a Complete Life": This was a core sermon he preached often.
• 1954 – "Rediscovering Lost Values": Given in Detroit, Michigan.
• 1956 – "The Death of Evil Upon the Seashore": Preached in New York City.
• 1957 – "The Birth of a New Nation": Given in Montgomery, Alabama.
• 1957 – "Loving Your Enemies": A sermon about treating others with kindness, even those who oppose you.
• 1963 – "Eulogy for the Martyred Children": This was a sad speech for the victims of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama.
• 1968 – "The Drum Major Instinct": Preached in Atlanta, Georgia.
• 1968 – "Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution": This was King's last Sunday sermon. He gave it at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
• 1968 – "I've Been to the Mountaintop": This powerful speech was given on April 3, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. It was the day before he was assassinated.

Important Speeches

Martin Luther King Jr. gave many speeches that shaped the Civil Rights Movement. Here are some notable ones:

• 1955 – Montgomery Improvement Association Mass Meeting Speech: On December 5, 1955, King spoke at a meeting for the Montgomery Improvement Association in Montgomery, Alabama. This was a key moment during the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

• 1957 – "Give Us the Ballot": On May 17, 1957, King gave this speech in Washington, D.C.. He called for voting rights for African Americans.

• 1962 – "If the Negro Wins, Labor Wins": King spoke at an AFL-CIO convention in Bal Harbour, Florida. He talked about how the fight for civil rights and the fight for workers' rights were connected.

• 1963 – The "Great March on Detroit" Speech: On June 23, 1963, King gave a version of his "I Have a Dream" speech in Detroit, Michigan. This was before the famous march in Washington.

• 1963 – "I Have a Dream": This iconic speech was delivered on August 28, 1963, in Washington, D.C.. It is one of the most famous speeches in history. King shared his dream of equality and justice for all people.

• 1964 – Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech: On December 10, 1964, King accepted his Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway. He spoke about the importance of peace and nonviolence.

• 1965 – "How Long, Not Long": King gave this speech on March 25, 1965, at the end of the Selma to Montgomery marches. He spoke about the progress being made in the fight for voting rights.

• 1966 – "Family Planning – A Special and Urgent Concern": On May 5, 1966, King's wife, Coretta Scott King, delivered this speech for him. He was honored for his work in social justice.

• 1967 – "Beyond Vietnam": On April 4, 1967, King gave this speech in New York, NY. He spoke out against the Vietnam War. He explained how the war was hurting efforts to fight poverty and injustice at home.

• 1967 – "The Other America": King gave variations of this speech several times, including on April 14, 1967, at Stanford University. He talked about the two "Americas"—one of opportunity and one of poverty and discrimination. He said that "a riot is the language of the unheard."

• 1967 – "Where Do We Go from Here?": On August 16, 1967, King gave this speech in Atlanta, GA. He discussed the future of the Civil Rights Movement.

• 1967 – "The Three Evils of Society": On August 31, 1967, King spoke about what he saw as the main problems in the United States: racism, poverty, and militarism.

• 1967 – Statement Announcing the Poor People's Campaign: On December 4, 1967, King announced plans for the Poor People's Campaign. This was a movement to bring attention to poverty in America.

• 1968 – "The Other America": King gave this speech again on March 14, 1968, in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. He continued to highlight the deep divide in American society.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s words continue to inspire people around the world to work for justice and equality.