Martin Luther KIng

Has his dream been realised yet?

That speech still has so much relevance today. When I visited Memphis, the speech was being played on the street outside the Lorraine Motel, where he was killed. Very moving to hear it in those circumstances. There was a woman living there on the street most of the time, collecting for a Memphis children's hospital, which she said Martin Luther King would have much preferred to being charged to visit his museum opposite. I wonder if she is still there?

It is also hard to believe that today is also the 50th anniversary of the colour bar being lifted on Bristol buses. Previously the company would only employ white people but following a boycott they changed their minds. I can remember as a teenager walking several miles to get somewhere rather than get the bus.

It was Mahalia Jackson who supposedly said 'Tell them about the dream'. A woman with an absolutely amazing voice.

Sun - yes isn't that an amazing story? Makes it all the more special

OMG where did OGM come from? Note to self - must preview posts

I heard an interview this morning with someone who has the biggest collection of recordings of public speeches in US. She said that the "I have a dream" speech wasn't actually written down. MLK had used part of it at a speech a week or so before and on the recording she has she can hear a woman saying "Tell them about the dream Martin". This is one of the few speeches which still give me goose bumps.

bluebell OGM ?? oh god mine? ha-ha

Three minds!

OGM - two minds with a simultaneous thought!!

Just heard it 'Oldgreymare* and was very moved by it - one of the greatest speeches of our time and of future times. If you didn't catch it go onto the Radio 4 website - which is also showing scenes from those times.