I happen to think that the best rendition of "I have a Dream" by Martin Luther King was the speech he gave at Cobo Hall Detroit, June 23rd 1963 where he spoke to an even more avid audience than Washington. Anyone who listens to both `Dream' speeches will appreciate the greater passion of King and audience response (indoor auditorium) in Detroit.



The Washington `Dream' speech has become world famous because it was televised and because it was the culmination of a day in the city of Washington "that had barricaded itself against the invaders."



The greatest irony re King's Washington speech is that what he delivered is not what he wrote!! At some stage during his speech, he disregarded his text and (some say at the behest of Mahalia Jackson who called to King `Tell them about the dream Martin') delivered his `Dream' peroration.



Hansen's book is a good read and takes us through the development of the prepared speech. He makes but one reference to the Detroit speech which surprises me. Work on the written draft commenced only a few days prior to Washington. The author - in minute detail - shows us two speech drafts plus the final script.



The prologue sets the scene well and features the searing, painful testimony of what happened Fannie Lou Hammer when arrested in Mississippi. In a well written chapter, Hansen shows that the day of the march itself was little short of chaotic. John Lewis confirms this in his wonderful book "Walking with the Wind."



A very interesting aspect of this book is when Hansen takes us through the response to the speech. It was received well, but not at all with the level of approval and awe that it has since received. Indeed NBC anchor Roger Mudd did not even allude to the "Dream" reference when reporting on the speech. Hansen shows us how the speech ultimately became recognized for the powerful work of oratory that it is by a one of the finest inspirational and motivational speakers the world has seen. Another great irony of this landmark speech is that it took the assassination of King for it to be truly appreciated.



This book does not go into nearly as much detail on the development of King's speaking style and the resources he culled from as does "Voice of Deliverance" by Keith Miller. Hansen though does a very good job in helping us to understand how the speech was crafted and ultimately why it has become so world famous.



A good read.

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