EPISODE · Feb 9, 2022 · 35 MIN
King's Speech
from Sidedoor · host Smithsonian Institution
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have a Dream Speech is one of the most famous speeches in the world. But it almost didn’t happen. If you look at King's typed manuscript of his speech —which is currently on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture— you won't find the phrase "I Have a Dream." But even though Dr. King's speech was improvised, that doesn't mean it wasn't years in the making. In this episode of Sidedoor, we trace the evolution of King's dream, from a secret friendship, to an experimental poem, to the speech we all know today. Guests: Kevin Young, Director of Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture W. Jason Miller, Author of Origins of the Dream: Hughes's Poetry and King's Rhetoric
What this episode covers
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have a Dream Speech is one of the most famous speeches in the world. But it almost didn’t happen. If you look at King's typed manuscript of his speech —which is currently on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture— you won't find the phrase "I Have a Dream." But even though Dr. King's speech was improvised, that doesn't mean it wasn't years in the making. In this episode of Sidedoor, we trace the evolution of King's dream, from a secret friendship, to an experimental poem, to the speech we all know today. Guests: Kevin Young, Director of Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture W. Jason Miller, Author of Origins of the Dream: Hughes's Poetry and King's Rhetoric
NOW PLAYING
King's Speech
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
Nov 5, 2025 ·38m
Oct 7, 2025 ·56m
Sep 26, 2025 ·17m
Sep 22, 2025 ·32m
Sep 16, 2025 ·42m
Jul 12, 2025 ·31m