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THE DREAM: MARTIN LUTHER KING Jr. AND THE SPEECH THAT INSPIRED A NATION This review has been written by Chicago based Irishman and humorous, inspirational, funny, keynote speaker Conor Cunneen. Conor has been called: "An Irish Dilbert" "James Joyce meets Tom Peters" "An Irish spark plug" If you are seeking a * Humorous keynote speaker * Humorous business speaker * Business keynote speaker with a true Gift of Gab * Humorous, Inspirational, funny keynote speaker who will wow your audience while delivering insightful, interesting fun material that will leave your audience laughing and thinking, then contact Conor Cunneen at 630 718 1643. ******** THE DREAM: MARTIN LUTHER KING Jr. AND THE SPEECH THAT INSPIRED A NATION Author: Drew D. Hansen 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."
Probably the greatest irony about this keynote speech is that what King delivered in not what he wrote! By any standards, King was an astonishing, inspirational, motivational keynote speaker, partly because he was naturally gifted as a keynote speaker but also because he honed his keynote speaker skills every sunday he preached. Many of King's speeches were written in advance, many were simply culled from set concepts and messages he had. In effect this is what happened with this most eloquent and evocative of speeches from a master orator and motivational keynote speaker. 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. For those interested in other great civil rights speeches, Josh Gottheimer's book Ripples of Hope provides some wonderful material. ****** Review written by keynote speaker and business humorist Conor Cunneen. Conor is a Chicago based inspirational, funny, thought-provoking, motivational, humorous business speaker who profoundly apologizes for the hyperbolic description which is necessary for search engines to find his website. If you really want to see how Conor can include keynote speaker references into a piece of creative humorous keynote writing read The Speaker Family. A former VP Marketing Unilever, this ebuliient Irishman with a genuine Gift of the Gab has worked in senior positions in Ireland, UK and USA before he finally found his true love. As an inspirational, funny, motivational, humorous speaker (there goes the hyperbole again) Conor has Educated, Entertained and Energized audiences from Madrid to Memphis. Contact Conor at 630 718 1643 if you are looking for any of the following (and tell him to give over on the hyperbole) * Inspirational Keynote Speaker * Humorous Business Speaker * Humorous Keynote Speaker * Motivational Keynote Speaker * Sales Conference Keynote Speaker * Keynote Speaker - Branding and Marketing * Keynote Speaker - Cancer * Irishborn Keynote Speaker * Keynote Speaker with the Gift of GAB * Marketing Keynote Speaker * Keynote Speaker Healthcare
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