Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke about the Promised Land in his last speech. The night before his assassination, he gave the famous “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech. He arrived in Memphis to support the black Memphis Sanitation Workers during their strike for better wages and working conditions. It was a speech he was not up to giving because he wasn’t feeling well. He had a sore throat and a fever. He was tired. Physically tired and more than likely mentally tired also. He arranged for a replacement speaker, however, the crowd did not want a replacement speaker. As a result, he was called to the Mason Temple to speak. King left the hotel where he would be killed the following day to give the unprepared speech.
At the time of the speech, Dr. King was under surveillance by the FBI, the NSA, and the CIA. His telephones were wiretapped and recorded. His hotel rooms were bugged. He received constant threats. Shots were fired and items were thrown at him during marches. He and his family received threatening letters and calls by racists and the federal government. It was only three years ago that Malcolm X was assassinated. He knew his time was short.
The “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech is almost a foretelling for Black Americans and this country. It wasn’t as submissive as the I Have a Dream Speech. This speech was seasoned with reflections and a pinch of Malcolm X. He was tired of the talking part of the movement. He wanted to motivate us to continue the fight, and warn us that he will not be alive to see our success. King told us actionable steps of what we need to do to succeed. Additionally, in the speech he speaks of the Promised Land. How we as a people will get to the Promised Land. He states he’s been to the mountaintop and has seen the Promised Land. He implies that he has seen black people in the Promised Land.
It has been more than 50 years since that speech and his untimely death. That entire speech is still relevant today. What is the Promised Land? Webster Dictionary defines the Promised Land as a happy place or condition; a place where dreams or hopes can come true. Have we as a people reached the Promised Land? Is the Promised Land here in this country? I know my answer. What is your opinion? Send us an email or comment below.