gradualism。Nowisthetimetorisefromthedarkanddesolatevalleyofsegregationtothesunlitpathofracialjustice。NowisthetimetoopenthedoorsofopportunitytoallofGod&#39；schildren。Nowisthetimetoliftournationfromthequicksandsofracialinjusticetothesolidrockofbrotherhood。

ItwouldbefatalforthenationtooverlooktheurgencyofthemomentandtounderestimatethedeterminationoftheNegro。ThisswelteringsummeroftheNegro&#39；slegitimatediscontentwillnotpassuntilthereisaninvigoratingautumnoffreedomandequality。Nineteensixty…threeisnotanend；butabeginning。ThosewhohopethattheNegroneededtoblowoffsteamandwillnowbecontentwillhavearudeawakeningifthenationreturnstobusinessasusual。TherewillbeneitherrestnortranquilityinAmericauntiltheNegroisgrantedhiscitizenshiprights。

Thewhirlwindsofrevoltwillcontinuetoshakethefoundationsofournationuntilthebrightdayofjusticeemerges。ButthereissomethingthatImustsaytomypeoplewhostandonthewarmthresholdwhichleadsintothepalaceofjustice。Intheprocessofgainingourrightfulplacewemustnotbeguiltyofwrongfuldeeds。Letusnotseektosatisfyourthirstforfreedombydrinkingfromthecupofbitternessandhatred。

Wemustforeverconductourstruggleonthehighplaneofdignityanddiscipline。wemustnotallowourcreativeprotesttodegenerateintophysicalviolence。Againandagainwemustrisetothemajesticheightsofmeetingphysicalforcewithsoulforce。

ThemarvelousnewmilitancywhichhasengulfedtheNegromunitymustnotleadustodistrustofallwhitepeople；formanyofourwhitebrothers；asevidencedbytheirpresenceheretoday；haveetorealizethattheirdestinyistiedupwithourdestinyandtheirfreedomisinextricablyboundtoourfreedom。

Wecannotwalkalone。Andaswewalk；wemustmakethepledgethatweshallmarchahead。Wecannotturnback。Therearethosewhoareaskingthedevoteesofcivilrights；〃；Whenwillyoubesatisfied？〃；wecanneverbesatisfiedaslongasourbodies；heavywith