Martin Luther King delivered his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech on April 3, 1968 at a rally in Memphis, Tennessee. In the speech, he addressed economic action and called for nonviolent action and unity. King’s appearance in Memphis had been delayed due to a bomb threat and he acknowledged the possibility of an unnatural death:

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!

The great civil rights leader was assassinated the next evening.

martinlutherkingjr, politics