The Dream: Martin Luther King, Jr and the Speech that Inspired a Nation (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "In 1963, the year that Martin Luthur King, Jr., delivered one of the most famous speeches in American history, blacks in America lived under a..." (more)
Key Phrases: faith that unearned suffering, honoring this sacred obligation, marvelous new militancy, New York, Martin Luther King, Congressional Record (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This year marks the fortieth anniversary of the 1963 march on Washington and King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech, which thrust King into the national spotlight, provided a barometer of the national conscience, and reflected on both our past transgressions and future moral objectives. Hansen examines King's speech on numerous levels and in many contexts, revealing the confluence of forces that account for its unprecedented impact. He explores King's theological and intellectual focus and his roots in the tradition of black Baptist sermons. Hansen uses King's speech to examine the competing elements of an American society divided along North-South, black-white lines and to explore the contradictions of such interests along a moral continuum. King's speech provided a common code of moral respect, but not consensus of action, as diverse elements agreed to its greatness or purpose but not its call to act. Readers interested in the moral issues tied to the civil rights struggle will enjoy Hansen's analysis. Vernon Ford
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"A fitting contribution to the 40th anniversary of the speech and the march."
-- Publishers Weekly (Publisher's Weekly ) --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Ecco; 1st edition (July 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060084766
• ISBN-13: 978-0060084769
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,205,214 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "I have a dream" - more than just a speech, August 6, 2003

By	Lester Craven (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I read "The Dream" in one sitting this weekend. The book vividly recaptures the spirit of the time during which Rev. King developed and delivered this inspiring and world-changing speech. At first I was afraid that the author's decomposition of the speech would diminish the power and effectiveness of the speech. On the contrary, his deep exploration into the speech itself and the events leading up to that day, together with fresh perspectives on the moment itself and the years following its delivery enhanced my admiration for both the speech and Rev. King. The author's inescapable conclusion is that there was much, much more at work than a man delivering a televised speech to a supportive crowd. This singular moment in Rev. King's life was the catalyst for much of the advancement that we all benefit from today. Yet this same event is also being used by some to impede further progress in the complete fulfillment of The Dream. This is a book I can wholeheartedly recommend for anyone who wants to learn about the history of that day and its subsequent impact over the next 40 years. It will also be of particular relevance to those with an interest in public speaking.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars King of the Dream, July 16, 2003

By A Customer

I've listened to King's famous speech dozens of times and read a number of books on King, but it wasn't until reading Hansen's captivating description and analysis of the speech that I realized how little I knew about this seminal event in American history. This book is unusual in that it is both hugely readable and phenomenally informative and insightful.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Places Speech in Proper Context, July 15, 2003

By	John Adam (Michigan USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I recommend this book. It is a quick, informative and enjoyable read esp if you are interested in how a speech is prepared and delivered.

I agree that the "I Have a Dream" speech has become a cliche among many and ignores King's post-1963 life.

It would be nice if the book could have contained a CD of the speech but the King family owns the rights to the speech, I think, a point not ever addressed by the author.