'[In] this slim but powerful book . . . Younge is adept at both distilling the facts and asking blunt questions.'—Boston Globe

'Unequivocal.'—Financial Times

'Gary Younge's meditative retrospection on [the speech's] significance reminds us of all the micro-moments of transformation behind the scenes—the thought and preparation, vision and revision—whose currency fed that magnificent lightning bolt in history.'—Patricia J. Williams

Gary Younge explains why Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech maintains its powerful social relevance by sharing the dramatic story surrounding it. Fifty years later, 'The Speech' endures as a defining moment in the Civil Rights movement and a guiding light in the ongoing struggle for racial equality.

Younge roots his work in new and important interviews with Clarence Jones, a close friend of Martin Luther King Jr. and his draft speechwriter; with Joan Baez, a singer at the march; and with Angela Davis and other leading civil rights leaders. Younge skillfully captures the spirit of that historic day in Washington and offers a new generation of readers a critical modern analysis of why 'I Have a Dream' remains America's favorite speech.

Gary Younge is an author, broadcaster, and award-winning columnist for the Guardian, based in Chicago, Illinois. He also writes a monthly column for the Nation magazine and is the Alfred Knobler Fellow for The Nation Institute.

Praise for Gary Younge'sStranger in a Strange Land: Encounters in the Disunited States:

'Abroad in America, Gary Younge is an acutely skeptical observer.'?Jonathan Raban

'Gary Younge is an excellent journalist?a critical writer at a critical time.'?Andrea Levy

'One of the tiny handful of contemporary journalists left who is consistently worth reading. A voice for our times.'?Stuart Hall

Praise for No Place Like Home: A Black Briton's Journey Through the American South:

'Younge's book is a blend of travelogue, historical research, and social commentary leavened with the sharp eyes and tongue of an outsider examining the American racial milieu.'?Booklist

Praise for Who Are We?And Should it Matter:

'Penetrating and provocative.'?The Guardian

It was a sweltering eighty-seven degrees when Martin Luther King took the stage at the Lincoln Memorial in 1963. He was the final speaker after a long day. The crowd, which numbered in the tens of thousands, had begun to leave.

King took a deep breath and threw back his shoulders.

'I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream.'

Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his powerful 'I Have a Dream' speech on August 28, 1963. Fifty years later, The Speech endures as a defining moment in the Civil Rights movement. It continues to be heralded as a beacon in the ongoing struggle for racial equality. This gripping book unearths the fascinating chronicle behind The Speech and the revealing events surrounding the march on Washington.

Gary Younge is an author, broadcaster, and award-winning columnist for the Guardian and the Nation. His books include Who are We—And Should it Matter In the 21st Century and No Place Like Home, shortlisted for the Guardian first book award.