Forty-five years today, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered a speech on the steps of the State Capitol in Montgomery, AL after the successful completion of the march from Selma, AL to Montgomery. Officially titled as "Our God Is Marching On!", the brilliant address is more commonly known as the "How Long? Not Long." speech. Here is an excerpt from the most famous portion of the speech:
"I know you're asking today, 'How long will it take?'. Somebody’s asking, 'How long will prejudice blind the visions of men, darken their understanding and drive bright eyed wisdom from her sacred throne?'. Somebody’s asking, 'When will wounded justice, lying prostrate on the streets of Selma and Birmingham and communities all over the South, be lifted from this dust of shame to reign supreme among the children of men?'. Somebody’s asking, 'When will the radiant star of hope be plunged against the nocturnal bosom of this lonely night, plucked from weary souls with chains of fear and the manacles of death? How long will justice be crucified and truth bear it?'.
I come to say to you this afternoon, however difficult the moment, however frustrating the hour, it will not be long because truth crushed to earth will rise again.
How long? Not long because no lie can live forever.
How long? Not long because you shall reap what you sow."
To read a full transcript of the speech, you can click on the following link: http://www.mlkonline.net/ourgod.html. This link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAYITODNvlM) will allow you to view a video of a longer version of the above excerpt.
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