MLK, Jr. Day "I Have a Dream" Activity
/Most people have seen clips from Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream Speech" but most haven't actually seen/heard/read the full 17-minute speech, which is masterful and profound. I have included it below.
This activity is a simple one based on this speech we've done as a family that you can do with your family, students or youth group.
Materials
- Copies of PDF Download of MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech and his "Letter from Birmingham Jail" for each participant.
- The full 17 minute "I Have a Dream" speech below cued up and ready to watch (you can use the one embedded below and expand it to full screen).
- Pens/pencils for each participant.
Activity
- Inform participants that we will be watching the full "I Have a Dream" speech and that each person is to follow along with their handout of the speech and simply circle/underline any thoughts, concepts, ideas, principles or concepts that resonate with them that they find meaningful/interesting.
- Watch the speech.
- Process:
- Go around and have each person share 1-3 quotes/thoughts that were most meaningful to them.
- Encourage other members to share their thoughts on what others shared and add in your own ideas, too, but don't take over the discussion or turn it into a lecture. Let the group carry the discussion.
- PDF Download of MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech and his "Letter from Birmingham Jail" which I use as a handout for people to circle the ideas, thoughts, concepts and principles that relate to them the most, and then discuss and share after they watch:
- The above video.
- Blog Posts on Nonviolence and Peace referencing MLK
- "Be the Answer: Solutions to Bullying" school assembly and intervention program which incorporates MLK's teachings.