梦想英语演讲稿汇编（精选14篇）
i have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed—we hold theses truths to be self—oevident， that all men are created equal。 i have a dream that one day on the red hills of georgia， sons of former slaves and sons of former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood。 i have a dream my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character。 i have a dream today！ when we allow freedom to ring， when we let it ring from every village and hamlet， from every state and city， we will be able to speed up that day when all of god’s children—black men and white men ， jews and gentiles， catholics and protestants—will be able to join hands and to sing in the words of the old negro spiritual， “free at least ，free at last 。 thank god almighty， we are free at last。”
Good afternoon:
honorable judges,dear teachers and close friends.i’m very glad to standhere to share my speech with y i’m going to talk about dreams.
everyone has a dream.
martin luther king had a dream-and we can all recall his civil knight had a dream-and now the whole world knows his nikeslogan“just do it”!
i also have a dream,but not only a simple one.
when i was in primary school,my dream was that i would be a doctor when igrew up.i’ll be the first person who produces a new kind ofmedicine can make teachers rela_ when they are busy correcting their students’e_ercises and preparing their use one day when i woke up atmidnight,i found my father,a senior chinese teacher,was still busy with hiswork.i was deeply moved.i wish my father could be healthy and rela_ed everyminute.
now i’m a senior grade two student,all my classmates and i are workinghard,we all know the college entrance e_amination which will come in the year of_X_is a big problem for must study harder and harder in order to go to agood university,then when we finish our school,we can find a good job dream is also gh now i’m not good at study,i’ll try mybest.
i am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
five score years ago, a great american, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the emancipation proclamation. this momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. it came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
but one hundred years later, the negro still is not free. one hundred years later, the life of the negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. one hundred years later, the negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. one hundred years later, the negro is still languished in the corners of american society and finds himself an exile in his own land. and so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.
in a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. when the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the constitution and the declaration of independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every american was to fall heir. this note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable rights" of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." it is obvious today that america has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. instead of honoring this sacred obligation, america has given the negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."
good afternoon, everybody! i ’m pang qiyuan, from class 2, senior 3.today i ’m very happy here to talk about my dream. i hope you can support me and do me a favor, ok? dream likes a beautiful flower. different people have different dreams.they make the earth colorful and wonderful. a dream is a target in life, in which it can give people power. it can show people the directions and final destinations. i have three dreams. my first dream is that i wish i could go to college some day, which is also the one of many other students ’ dreams. going to college for further education can not only enrich our knowledge, but also teach us how to behave better. i always imagine that the college life must be very interesting. this dream gives me energy to study harder and harder. now i ’m trying my best to make it come true. sure, i have enough confidence to realize my dream. my second dream is becoming an excellent doctor. i always dream that i could turn a doctor like bai qiuen, so that i could cure a lot of patients, help them get rid of sick devil, let them lead a healthy and happy life, and finally i will feel happy, too. my third dream is that all the people together with the surroundings can live in perfect harmony. there are no quarrellings, no cheatings, and no wars in the world. we should be kind to each other, love each other and care each other. all the people in the world could get along as well as a big family with each other. i dream that we could enjoy absolute peace and freedom. these are my dreams. how i wish that they could come true soon! thank you.
My dream job is to become a professor of literature at a prestigious university. As an avid reader and lover of literature, I believe that teaching others about the beauty and power of language is the most fulfilling career path for me.
In order to achieve my dream, I have been working hard to obtain my PhD in English literature. I have also been honing my teaching skills by working as a teaching assistant and giving guest lectures at local universities.
As a professor, I hope to inspire my students to develop a passion for literature and to appreciate its ability to enhance our understanding of the world around us. I also hope to conduct research and publish works that contribute to the field of literary studies. Although becoming a professor can be a challenging journey, I am willing to put in the effort and make the necessary sacrifices to achieve my goal. I believe that with a strong work ethic and a passion for what I do, I can one day fulfill my dream of becoming a literary professor.
我的梦想职业是成为一名在知名大学任教的文学教授。作为一位热爱阅读和文学的人，我相信教别人语言之美和力量是我最充实的职业道路。
为了实现我的梦想，我一直在努力获得英国文学博士学位。我还通过担任助教和在当地大学做客讲座来磨练我的教学技能。
作为一名教授，我希望能激发我的学生对文学产生热情，并欣赏它对我们理解周围世界的能力。我也希望进行研究和发表作品，为文学研究领域做出贡献。
尽管成为一名教授是一条充满挑战的道路，但我愿意付出努力和作出必要的.牺牲来实现我的目标。我相信，有着强烈的职业操守和对我所做的事情的热情，我有朝一日能够实现成为文学教授的梦想。
Ladies and gentlemen!
Good evening! I am very glad to stand here and give you a short speech. First, please permit me introduce myself to all of you. My name is … Today my topic is “My University”. I hope you will like it.Now let’s begin.
First, I will talk something about my university. My university, -Henan Polytechnic University has a long and honor history. Our campus is so beautiful and when I stepped on the campus of Our university, seeing the sunshine sprinkling over the teaching buildings, my stage I know, is here!
It was the first time that I went into HPU, I felt he is so young ,so living and kicking, just as we are! It was the first time that I was attracted in class by my teachers, and my English teacher in particularly, who, you know, is just like our old friend, funny, soft , considerate and trying to make us more comfortable! It was the first time that I made friends here, we have a little in common, thus we all head for the same destination, we all make progress every day! it was the first time that I participated in activities here, I was terribly excited, feeling being young is so wonderful!!
Actually， my life in university is substantial. I tried to study harder and took more active part in activities at school to eich my life and myself. There is an old saying "where there is a will, there is a way." I think my dream can come true. Now in the university I mature, and in the university I prepare for the real world. My university, my dream. I believe that I can fly at the height of dream.
HPU ---the first step in my future career!
I enjoy my stay here, and meanwhile, I know, being young, HPU is till developing every second, every minute, every hour, and every day!
HPU---inspires me to pursue my dream!
Now, standing here, expressing my emotions for my university, I feel so proud of you! I hope as much as I believe, my university--HPU, the cool eagle, will fly higher and higher! In the end, thank all of you for listening to my speech. That’s all. Thank you again.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every vally shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
Wow, what a dream it has been for Martin Luther King. But the changing world seems telling me that people gradually get their dreams lost somehow in the process of growing up, and sometimes I personally find myself saying goodbye unconsciously to those distant childhood dreams.
However, we meed dreams. They nourish our spirit; they represent possibility even when we are dragged down by reality. They keep us going. Most successful people are dreamers as well as ordinary people who are not afraid to think big and dare to be great. When we were little kids, we all dreamed of doing something big and splashy, something significant. Now what we need to do is to maintain them, refresh them and turn them into reality. However, the toughest part is that we often have no ideas how to translate these dreams into actions. Well, just start with concrete objectives and stick to it. Don’t let the nameless fear confuse the eye and confound our strong belief of future. Through our talents, through our wits, through our endurance and through our creativity, we will make it.
Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams, for when dreams go, life is a barren field frozen with snow. So my dear friends, think of your old and maybe dead dreams. Whatever it is, pick it up and make it alive from today.
抓牢你的梦想
我今天有一个梦想。
我梦想有一天，幽谷上升，高山下降，崎岖之地变平原，曲折之路成坦途。圣光展露，满照人间。
这对马丁路德金是怎样的一个梦想啊。不过这个变化着的世界似乎在告诉我，在成长的过程中，人们却不知不觉把他们的梦想弄丢了，而我自己也有时会觉得在告别很多童年的梦。
然而，我们是需要梦想的。梦想滋养我们的灵魂，梦想代表着我们被现实拉垮时依然具有的希望。它鼓励我们不断前进。大多数成功人士都是梦想家，同时也是普通人，只是他们敢于梦想敢于成就伟大。当我们还是孩子的时候，我们都梦想过做一番大事业，现在应当做的就是保存好那些梦想，再度恢复它们，并将它们实现。不过最难的是我们通常不知道怎样付诸实施。那么，就从最具体的目标开始，坚持去做吧。不要让那些莫名的恐惧迷惑了我们的双眼，影响了我们对未来的信念。用我们的天资和智慧，用我们的耐力和创造力，我们一定会实现梦想。
抓牢你的梦想，因为如果梦想死亡，生活就成了一只折断翅膀的鸟再也不能飞翔。抓牢你的梦想，因为如果失去梦想，生命就成了一块覆盖着冰雪的贫瘠的冻土。亲爱的朋友们，想想那些过去的或已经死去的梦想吧。不管是什么，重新将它捡起，并从今天开始让它重生。
Everyone has a dream, it is everybody yearning. But the man without a dream of the life will be empty. But dreams are always with the thought of advance and change. Begin to remember, I have a dream. I hope I have money, people always ask: "boy, this is a great dream, have money, what are you going to do?" " I'm going to buy chocolate."" if you have a lot of money?" " I will buy a lot of chocolate.""
if you have money to burn?" " I'll buy chocolate factory." Indeed when we, innocent, with a kind heart, happineand joy is a constant movement. When I was young, I have a dream. I hope you can become a kite, floating in the sky, and then slowly fell down. Then in the green meadow like playing with companion, often chasing the white clouds in the sky, let the flap with laughter, do the multicolored multicoloured dream. Read, I have a dream. I hope to have a basketball; when I had time for basketball, but also want a football; when I play football, volleyball became my pursuit. Another has a dream into a reality when, in fact I believe that the dream is not far away from me, as long as childish play, will be the realization of a dream. Slowly into the primary school, middle school, high school .... Will feel more pressure there, so will not be a dream, only know that reading to die, there is no note of those happy. Remember, I have a dream. I hope that day will not have a lot of homework to do.
A bit of time to play deprived, and our day in 40% were imprisoned in the classroom, a lot of time on their study. But in the face of learning, or a vague awareness. As the saying goes," woolly-headed", understanding, also from feudalism to capitalism, the more feel it right. Start up high all the time, I have a dream, I hope I can become a top student, got many awards; home to be family praise; in school teachers have been affirmed; among the students to stand head and shoulders above others performance; in the eyes can be recognized as a good child. But, gradually, I found that to achieve this dream and cannot rely on to childish play. Later, I learned how to fight. Bustling about home from school one day, it is leisure, listen to music, eat dinner, back to school. This day very dull, perhaps sometimes put a lot of friends; sometimes miss, or a pair of sleepy driving school. Love fashion school clothing, really want to go for a walk, take a look at. Sunday's time is very short, baby I really want to make, slowly know life hard and dream is really too difficult, but I will work hard, to see everyone to live up early to catch up later, hold oneself no longer loose.
Today, I have a dream, I hope I can enter a favorite university, the best in Beijing. My dreams, in the high school that dark water jar for food, every day for enrich myself struggling for the future of the food, light and hard. Dream is like a seed, in the" heart" of the soil, although it is very small, but can be rooted blossom, if there is no dream, just like living in the desert of Gobi, desolate, no vitality. Have dream, have pursuit, has the goal, has a dream, there will be a driving force. It will urge people forward, maybe in the dreams of the road, will meet many setbacks, but never mind, fell himself up, for his dream and forward, after all, the future is our own creation.
Thank you!
Good afternoon, everyone!
My name is Jia Yangliu. I’m eleven years old. I’m in Class 2, Grade 7.
Different people has different dreams. Someone wants to be a doctor. Someone wants to be a musician，because he is good at music. Someone wants to be a writer， because he likes writing. Someone wants to be a teacher because he likes teaching children.
What do I want to be when I’m older? You see, I like playing the piano. So I want to become a pianist. Playing the piano is very interesting. And you can learn something of music. Piano can make your life beautiful and happy.
I could play the piano when I was ten years old. My teachers and friends say I can play the piano very well.
Now I’m a middle school student. There are many things at school. Sometimes, I have no time to play the piano. But, I’ll still be harder and harder to practice. The youngest pianist, Langlang is my idol. He is such a great pianist. I hope I can be a pianist like him.
I know becoming a piano is a hard job. But I believe I can do it. Where there is a will, there is a way. My dream will come true one day. Believe me! Thank you!
As a child, I always dreamed of being an astronaut. The idea of exploring the outer space and discovering new planets seemed incredibly exciting to me. I would spend hours reading books about space and studying photographs of the galaxies.
As I grew older, my interests changed and my dream shifted. I became passionate about environmental issues and wanted to dedicate my life to protecting nature. I started volunteering for environmental organizations and studying ecology at college.
Today, my dream is to become an environmentalist and work towards a more sustainable future. I want to help reduce pollution, preserve endangered species and promote renewable energy. I believe that if we all work together, we can create a world that is healthier and more livable for future generations.
In conclusion, our dreams may change throughout our lives but they always reflect our deepest desires and aspirations. It is important to pursue our dreams and make them a reality, for they give our life purpose and direction.
作为一个孩子，我一直梦想成为一名宇航员。探索外层空间和发现新行星的想法对我来说非常令人兴奋。我会花数小时阅读关于太空的书籍，并研究星系的照片。
随着我长大，我的兴趣发生了改变，我的梦想也随之转变。我变得热衷于环境问题，希望致力于保护自然。我开始为环保组织做志愿工作，并在大学里学习生态学。
今天，我的梦想是成为一名环保主义者，为更可持续的未来而努力工作。我想帮助减少污染，保护濒危物种，推广可再生能源。我相信，如果我们齐心协力，我们可以创造一个更健康、更适合未来一代居住的世界。
最后，我们的梦想可能会在我们的'生命中不断变化，但它们总是反映我们最深层的愿望和抱负。追求我们的梦想并使它们成为现实非常重要，因为它们给我们的生活赋予了目的和方向。
hest place at the olympic games.With all the cameras pointing at me.I will tell everyone that I'm so proud to be a Chinese athlete!
This is my hope .This is the faith that I continue my steps with!!!
With this faith ，I will live though the strong wind and heavy rain ，never give up !
So let victory ring from my heart，from all of you.When we allow victory to ring .I must be the one!
In my imagination，I'm a bird ，a magical bird.I carry my dreams all with me by my big wings. I fly though the mountains ，though the forests ，over the sea，to the sun ，the warmest place in the aerospace!
Every night ，I have a dream ，I see a girl ---smiling
Distinguished teachers, dear classmates:
Today, the title of my speech is, the teacher study, chasing dreams.
In a string of campus, had my mother's footsteps, she had told me a lot of let her remember one time, look a lot of the teacher's name, she often inspires me with that kind of gratitude and honor. In the five-star red flag flying high, many students like me, our mom and dad went out from one of the campus, they are proud of his Alma mater, the teacher to make model, constantly struggle, with the knowledge and confidence for us to build a happy life environment, the patron saint of our life.
Today, people coming from all directions, and glory in the campus. We are pleased that we are proud!
Sunrise view, under the wide river, JianShi one are compared to the party is to train talents. Clean spacious walkway, the four seasons constant new garden, garden lawn like a blanket, shaded by trees and group building, and a model with underwater sound to sing. Today, JianShi one and will celebrate her seventieth birthday, advancing with The Times JianShi one bearing the weight of rich history and culture background, send to the five hundred thousand people of high hopes.
In calling upon society in advance, era. The classmates, time and tide wait for no man! Of our fathers, and the teacher's cultivation, we are here to accept the baptism of youth, from here to chase the dream. Lost a teenager's stubborn, correction arose up coordinates; Full power to study hard, make life more colorful. I firmly believe that respect for the teacher, you, is our lead.
Every day, English teacher again and again repeated his patience; The math teacher rounds of interpretation of his profound; The teacher in charge teacher day after day superposition with his persistence and sweat. Our teacher, a day's homework in the morning mist combinations, and trying to impart knowledge; In the dim light of night off every classmate, selfless fearless devoted love.
Into the school gate, at the beginning of my study is not good, thanks to the teacher for more than a semester inculcation, there is obvious improvement in my grades, I am proud of the progress of his subjects, like I get this exercise opportunity today, full of confidence.
Beautiful campus, it is the green shade to caress, blossoming flowers will bloom. And are proud of the teacher to study; Study for volunteers, chasing dreams. Today, we're going to have one hundred times harder; Tomorrow, we can make the dream come true!
Thank you teacher!
Thank the classmates!
尊敬的各位老师，亲爱的同学们：
你们好!
今天，我演讲的题目是，《尊师勤学，追逐梦想》。
在一串的校园里，曾有过我妈妈的足迹，她给我讲过很多让她记忆犹新的一中岁月，历数过好多好多老师的名字，她经常用那种感恩和荣誉激励着我。在高高飘扬的五星红旗下，很多同学跟我一样，我们的爸爸妈妈从一中的校园走了出去，他们以母校为荣，以老师作榜样，用知识和信心不断打拼，为我们建造了幸福的生活环境，成为我们生命的守护神。
而今，大家从四面八方走来，也荣聚在这所校园里。我们欣慰，我们自豪!
朝阳观下，广润河畔，人们把建始一中比作是培育英才的一方沃土。宽敞清洁的走道，四季常新的花园，碧如绒毯的草坪，绿树与群楼掩映，书声与水声同唱。而今，建始一中又将迎来她七十岁的生日，与时俱进的建始一中承载着丰厚的历史文化底蕴，寄予着五十万人的殷切希望。
社会在前进，时代在呼唤。同学们，时不我待!父辈的寄托，老师的培育，我们在这里接受青春的洗礼，从这里去追逐梦想。丢掉少年时期的顽劣，修正勃发向上的坐标;充实勤学苦练的本领，打造绚丽多彩的人生。我坚信，尊敬的老师，您，就是我们的引路人。
每天，英语老师一遍又一遍的重复着他的耐心;数学老师一轮又一轮的诠释着他的深邃;班主任老师一天又一天的叠加着他的执著和汗水。我们的老师，顶着晨雾组合一天的功课，身心竭力地传授知识;披着夜色送走每一个同学，无私无畏地倾注关爱。
初进校门的时候，我的学习并不好，感谢老师一个多学期的谆谆教诲，我的成绩有了明显的提高，我为自己学科的进步而感到自豪，就像我今天获得的这次锻炼机会一样，充满信心。
美丽的校园里，正是有了绿荫呵护，鲜花就会朵朵盛开。尊师为荣，致力勤学;勤学为志，追逐梦想。今天，我们要有百倍的努力;明天，我们才能梦想成真!
谢谢老师!
谢谢同学们!
five score years ago，a great american，in whose symbolic shadow we stand signed the emancipation proclamation. this momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. it came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity.
but one hundred years later，we must face the tragic fact that the negro is still not free. one hundred years later，the life of the negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. one hundred years later，the negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. one hundred years later，the negro is still languishing in the corners of american society and finds himself an exile in his own land. so we have come here today to dramatize an appalling condition.
in a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. when the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the constitution and the declaration of independence，they were signing a promissory note to which every american was to fall heir. this note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life，liberty，and the pursuit of happiness.
it is obvious today that america has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. instead of honoring this sacred obligation，america has given the negro people a bad check which has come back marked
so we have come to cash this check -- a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.
we have also come to this hallowed spot to remind america of the fierce urgency of now. this is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of god's children. now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.
it would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the determination of the negro. this sweltering summer of the negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. nineteen sixty-three is not an end，but a beginning.
those who hope that the negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. there will be neither rest nor tranquility in america until the negro is granted his citizenship rights. the whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.
but there is something that i must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. in the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.
we must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. we must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.
the marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the negro community must not lead us to distrust of all white people，for many of our white brothers，as evidenced by their presence here today，have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.
we cannot walk alone.and as we walk，we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. we cannot turn back. there are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights，go back to mississippi，go back to alabama，go back to georgia，go back to louisiana，go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities，knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. let us not wallow in the valley of despair.
i say to you today，my friends，that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment，i still have a dream. it is a dream deeply rooted in the american dream.
i have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed：
i have a dream that one day on the red hills of georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.
i have a dream that one day even the state of mississippi，a desert state，sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression，will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
i have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
i have a dream today.
i have a dream that one day the state of alabama，whose governor's lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification，will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little
white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers. i have a dream today.
i have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted，every hill and mountain shall be made low，the rough places will be made plain，and the crooked places will be made straight，and the glory of the lord shall be revealed，and all flesh shall see it together.
this is our hope. this is the faith with which i return to the south. with this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. with this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. with this faith we will be able to work together，to pray together，to struggle together，to go to jail together，to stand up for freedom together，knowing that we will be free one day.
this will be the day when all of god's children will be able to sing with a new meaning，and if america is to be a great nation this must become true. so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of new hampshire. let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of new york. let freedom ring from the heightening alleghenies of pennsylvania!
let freedom ring from the snowcapped rockies of colorado!
let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of california!
but not only that; let freedom ring from stone mountain of georgia! let freedom ring from lookout mountain of tennessee!
let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of mississippi. from every mountainside，let freedom ring.
when we let freedom ring，when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet，from every state and every city，we will be able to speed up that day when all of god's children，black men and white men，jews and gentiles，protestants and catholics，will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old negro spiritual。
Dear teachers and my friends：
I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
five score years ago, a great american, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the emancipation proclamation. this momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. it came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
but one hundred years later, the negro still is not free. one hundred years later, the life of the negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. one hundred years later, the negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. one hundred years later, the negro is still languished in the corners of american society and finds himself an exile in his own land. and so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.
in a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. when the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the constitution and the declaration of independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every american was to fall heir. this note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable rights" of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." it is obvious today that america has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. instead of honoring this sacred obligation, america has given the negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."