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Words of a King |
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By Lori-Ann Jakel » Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is the most engaging speaker I have seen. He has mastered the art of the spoken word and serves his audience a platter of passion, so deliciously prepared, it leaves one wanting more!
A history lesson …
Martin Luther King Jr. was born January 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. His father was a Minister and had hoped his son would follow in his steps. Martin headed north to college and experienced his first taste of racial integration.
He married and moved to Alabama where he became a Pastor. His magical powers flourished as he took reign of the pulpit and began to deliver sermons. His tongue spoke of philosophy, his eyes of compassion and his heart of honour and love. His quotes were deep ...
“Darkness can not destroy darkness, only light can. Hate can not destroy hate , only love can”.
Martin Luther King rose to the forefront as a powerful speaker, orator but above all, a dreamer. King spoke with so much passion, it was potent. He learned to captured an audience by their ears and then their hearts.
Through the civil movement he experienced victory supporting Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Throughout his life, he was threatened, jailed, and he was stabbed yet his words still echoed loud and clear …“We are together, we are not afraid and we will overcome”.
King often preached of non-violence and felt that discrimination could best be described as a cancerous disease. Martin Luther King had a gift. He looked at the value of each person from within.
In 1963 he spoke of his dream during the Million Man March. It was the first time ever a civil protest was aired on national television and it was the first time we heard his most famous speech of all, I have a Dream!
In 1964 he won the Nobel Peace Prize. Martin Luther King was poised with integrity and conviction and he talked to a nation who chose to listen. In 1968 Martin Luther King delivered his last speech. One could close their eyes and easily be standing on the mountain top with this great leader when he said … “I’ve been to the mountain top. And I have looked over. I have seen the promised land. I may not get their with you but I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land”
The next night, Martin Luther King was shot dead, assassinated for merely having a dream. He died a Preacher, Dreamer, Speaker and Leader.
What can we learn from history’s greatest orator? Martin Luther King Jr. was a magnificent wordsmith. His word selection painted a vivid picture for his audiences but it was the passion behind the words that inspired an audience and a nation. This created a movement in history that will never be forgotten.
A speech writer, like an artist, creates masterpieces. The canvas becomes the paper the words are placed upon. The brush becomes the pen that places the words upon the canvas, thus making the masterpiece come to life. The wooden palette once filled with delightful colours is replaced by many vibrant words just waiting to dance upon the canvas.
One of the greatest gifts a speaker has is words. Take a look at a few passages from one of the greatest speeches of all times.
“But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we’ve come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.”
“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”.
“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.”
The use of repetition through-out this speech is what truly drives the message home. The choice of words build up momentum. The power is in the word, the power is in the voice and ultimately, the power is within you.
I encourage you to enjoy one of history’s greatest speeches online here. Listen to these well known words “I have a dream” and “Let freedom ring”? Notice how many times the message of this speech is magically hidden throughout the words.
It is now time to take your palette of vivid words. Build up that momentum and release the power from within. Place your words upon the canvas and create your very own masterpiece. Remember the first step to a any great speech or presentation is word selection. Focus on the quality of words and not the quantity.
•Now it’s your turn. Who literally moves you with their words? Is it a speaker, writer, friend or family member? Tell us in 300 words or less and if we publish it, you will receive a FREE one-year subcription to ConfidenceBound! |
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