I Have a Dream

马丁·路德·金/Martin Luther King

马丁·路德·金（1929—1968），美国著名的黑人民权运动领袖，基督教牧师和律师，曾任南方基督教领袖会主席。被誉为近百年来八大最具有说服力的演说家之一。他出身于亚特兰大黑人牧师家庭，毕业于克泽神学院和波士顿大学，先后获得文学士、神学士及博士学位。1954年，参加美国有色人种协进会活动。1964年获诺贝尔和平奖。1968年4月，他在田纳西州孟菲斯被一位白人青年雷伊枪杀身亡，年仅39岁。

我很高兴今天和你们一起，参加这一我国历史上为争取自由而举行的最伟大的示威集会，而这次集会也将永载史册。

100年前，一位伟大的美国人正式签署了《解放宣言》，今天，我们就站在他的雕像下。这项重要法令的颁布，如一座伟大的灯塔，照亮了当时挣扎于不义之火焚烤下的数百万黑奴的希望；它的到来就像欢快的破晓曙光，结束了黑人陷于囹圄的漫漫长夜。

然而，整整一百年过去了，我们却仍然不得不面对一个悲惨的现实，那就是黑人依然没有得到自由；整整一百年过去了，黑人依然被种族隔离的镣铐和种族歧视的锁链羁绊着，举步维艰；整整一百年过去了，在物质繁荣的汪洋大海之中，黑人却依然独自生存于贫穷的孤岛之上；整整一百年过去了，黑人依然在美国社会的阴暗角落向隅而泣，明明在自己的土地上却依然感到流离失所。因此，我们今天来到这里，把这种骇人听闻的情况公之于众。

就某种意义而言，我们今天来到首都是为了兑现一张支票。我们共和国的缔造者在撰写美国宪法以及独立宣言的壮丽篇章时，就签署了一张支票，并规定每个美国人都有权继承。这张支票承诺，所有的人——不论白人还是黑人——都拥有不可剥夺的生存、自由，以及追求幸福的权利。

显然，今天的美国拒绝向她的有色公民承兑这张支票。美国拒不履行这项神圣的义务，反而退给黑人同胞一张空头支票，一张标明“现金不足”的空头支票。但是，我们决不相信正义的银行会破产，也决不相信这个国家装满机遇的巨大宝库居然会出现现金不足的窘况。因此，我们来兑现这张支票——兑现这张承诺一经要求就可以给予我们宝贵自由和正义保障的支票。此外，我们来到这个神圣之地，还为了提醒美国，事情已经发展到刻不容缓的地步，解决迫在眉睫，我们再也没时间奢言冷静，或拿渐进主义当镇静剂了。现在是时候实现民主诺言了；是时候该走出阴暗荒芜的种族隔离深谷，踏上种族平等的阳光大道了；是时候该向上帝所有的孩子打开机遇的大门了；是时候该把我们的国家从种族不平等的流沙中托起，安放在手足之情铸就的磐石之上了。

低估此事的紧迫性，或者低估黑人的决心，都将给这个国家带来不堪设想的后果。自由平等的朗朗秋日不到来，黑人合理愤怒的炙热酷暑就不会过去。1963年不是结束，仅仅是一个开始。如果这个国家依然无动于衷、我行我素，那么，那些曾认为黑人只需发泄怒火就会心平气和的人就会惊醒。黑人一天得不到他们的公民权利，美国就休想获得片刻的安宁。抗争的飓风将继续晃动我们国家的基石，直至光明璀璨的正义之日浮现眼前。

但是，我有一些话要告诫站在通向正义殿堂温暖门槛上的同胞们。在争取合法地位的过程中，我们切不可因一步踏错而犯罪；我们切不要因为对自由的饥渴，而痛饮仇恨的苦酒。

我们应该在斗争中永远维持崇高的尊严和纪律。我们不能容许自己那富于创造性的抗争沦为粗野的暴动。我们应该一次次地升华自己，用我们灵魂的力量去对抗对手有形的暴力。我们不应该让这场已经席卷了整个黑人社会的不朽斗争把我们引入不信任所有白人的歧途——因为许多白人兄弟已经看到：我们彼此的命运紧紧相连，我们彼此的自由密不可分——今天，他们来参加我们这个集会就是对此最好的证明。我们不能独自前行。

而一旦开始行动，我们就必须确保勇往直前，决不能频频回首。有人问献身于民权运动的人：“你们什么时候才会感到满意？”只要黑人仍然是不堪形容的警察那野蛮暴行的牺牲品，我们就永远不会满意。

假如在历经长途跋涉后，我们仍然不能为自己疲倦的身躯在公路上的客栈或城市里的旅馆找到一席之地，我们就永远不会满意。

假如黑人的基本活动范围只是从窄小的贫民窟变成一个稍大的黑人居住区，我们就永远不会满意。

假如我们的孩子仍然会因为看到“白人专用”的告示，而感到人格被剥夺，尊严遭到了践踏，那么，我们就永远不会满意。

假如密西西比州的黑人依然不能行使自己的投票权，而纽约的黑人依然认为自己的投票毫无意义，那么，我们就永远不会满意。不，我们不满意，也永远不可能满意，除非正义如泉水般奔涌不止，公正如浪潮般澎湃不息。

我不会忘记，你们中有些人历经了重重磨难才来到这里，有些人刚刚从狭小的牢笼里被释放出来，有些人来自其他地区，在那里，他们追求自由却惨遭暴风雨般的迫害和警察的暴力肆虐。你们是久经磨难的老兵。那么，继续战斗下去吧，要坚信：总有一天，无辜受难的人们终会得到拯救。

回到密西西比去吧，回到亚拉巴马去吧，回到南卡罗来纳去吧，回到佐治亚去吧，回到路易斯安那去吧，回到我们北方城市中的贫民窟和黑人居住区去吧。要知道，这种处境是可以而且一定能够被改变的，请不要再沉湎于绝望的深谷之中。

朋友们，今天我要告诉你们，尽管此刻困难挫折重重，但我仍然有一个梦想，这个梦想深深扎根于伟大的美国之梦当中。

我有一个梦想：总有一天这个国家会愤然而起，实现其信条的真谛：“我们认为这些真理不言自明，每个人生来就是平等的。”

我有一个梦想：总有一天在佐治亚州的红土山坡上，昔日奴隶的儿子与昔日奴隶主的儿子能够如兄弟手足般同榻而坐。

我有一个梦想：总有一天就算是密西西比这样一个被不公正与种族压迫的热潮所统治着的荒漠之州，也能转变成一方自由和正义的绿洲。

我有一个梦想：总有一天我的四个孩子将生活在一个不是以肤色，而是以内在品质来评价他们的国度。

今天，我有一个梦想。

我有一个梦想：尽管亚拉巴马州州长今天仍在喋喋不休地说着不同意也不执行联邦法令的话语，总有一天，该州能有所不同，黑人的孩子能够和白人的孩子如兄弟姐妹般携手同行。

今天，我有一个梦想。

我有一个梦想：总有一天我们会填平所有的峡谷，夷平所有的山丘，崎岖之地将变为坦**的平原，曲折之路将变为笔直的大道；主的荣光将会显现，芸芸众生同声赞叹。

这是我们的渴望，也是将随我返回南方去的信念。靠着这个信念，我们就能从绝望之山开凿出希望之石。靠着这个信念，我们就能把我们国家种族争斗的不和谐之音，转谱成一曲兄弟友爱的动人交响曲。靠着这个信念，我们就能共同工作，共同祈愿，共同战斗，共同昂首入狱，共同维护自由。我们已经知道，总有一天，我们会获得自由。

当这一天到来之时，上帝所有的子民都能以全新的意义高唱：我的祖国，亲爱的自由之邦，我为你歌唱。这是祖先安息的故园，这是朝圣者为之自豪的土地。让自由之声在每一座山峰回响！

当美国成为真正伟大的国家时，这一切必将成真。

因此，让自由之声在新罕布什尔州的巍峨高峰回响！

让自由之声在纽约州的雄伟山脉中回响！

让自由之声在宾夕法尼亚州高耸的阿勒格尼山峰回响！

让自由之声在科罗拉多州白雪皑皑的洛基山回响！

让自由之声在加利福尼亚州的柔美群峰回响！

不，不仅如此，还要让自由之声在佐治亚州的石山回响！

让自由之声在田纳西州的远眺山峰回响！

让自由之声在密西西比州的每一座山岗，每一座丘陵回响！

让自由之声在每一处山坡回响！

当我们让自由之声回响时，当我们让自由之声在每一个山村，每一处村寨，每一个州，每一座城回响时，我们就能让这一天早日降临。到那时，上帝所有的孩子——白人与黑人，犹太人与非犹太人，基督教徒与天主教徒——携手同唱那首古老的黑人圣歌：“终于自由了！终于自由了！感谢全能的上帝，我们终于自由了！”

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 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 ofmaterial 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；a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." 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.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 make real the promises of Democracy.Now is the time to risefrom 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.Themarvelous 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， "When will you be satisfied？" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality.

We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies， heavy with the fatigue of travel， cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities.

We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one.

We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating "For Whites Only."

We can never be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No， no， we are not satisfied， and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells.Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality.You have been the veterans of creative suffering.Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi， go back to Alabama， go back to South Carolina， 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 thevalley 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： "We hold these truths to be self-evident：that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave-owners 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 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.

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， "My country，'tis of thee， sweet land of liberty， of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died， land of the pilgrim's pride， from every mountainside， let freedom ring."

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 allow 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， "Free at last！Free at last！Thank God almighty， we are free at last！"