Speech: “The Mountaintops” by Martin Luther King

Text 4

Origin: 20th century, Martin Luther King
Text Type: Speech
Intended Audience: African Americans who are follows of Martin Luther King and are fighting for equality

On April 3rd 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. presented a long-term mission and dream for the city of Memphis, Tennessee. On the following day, King was assassinated. During this time, African-Americans struggled with issues regarding inequality and problems caused by racial prejudice, forcing them to live more reserved lives.

The speech primarily concerns the Memphis Sanitation Strike. King calls for unity, economic actions, boycotts, and nonviolent protest, while challenging the United States to live up to its ideals. At the end of the speech, he discusses the possibility of an untimely death.

In King’s speech, he addresses this concept of “The Promised Land”. This can be linked to the common biblical reference of the ‘The Promised Land’ which was the land of Canaan, that was promised to Abraham and his descendants (Gen. 12:7). Therefore, King is assuring his people that he too will reach this land, where whites and blacks live together in unity. This can be shown when king says, “I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!”