All the loud noises that we hear today in terms of interposition and nullification are merely the death groans from a dying system—the old order is passing away. But now that a new world is coming into being of a new order, we must not stop here for when new developments take place in history, they bring with them new responsibilities, and new challenges.– MLK, 1958 Commencement Address, Morgan St College
His religion revealed to him that God loved all of His children and that all men are made in his image—so he came to see at this point that the important thing about a man is not his specificity but his fundamentum. Not the texture of his hair nor the color of his skin, but the texture and quality of his soul. – MLK, 1958 Commencement Address, Morgan St College
There comes a time people get tired of being trampled over by the iron feet of oppression. There comes a time, as it were, that people get tired of being pushed out of the glittering sunlight of life’s July, and left standing in the piercing chill of an Alpine November. These people became tired, and they decided to protest against that oppression.
– MLK, 1958 Commencement Address, Morgan St College
…there is the recalcitrance of the old. And so tensions which we witness in the world today are indicative of the fact that a new world is coming into being, and an old world is passing away. Now, we are all familiar with the old world—the old order that is passing away, we have seen it, and we have lived with it. We have seen it in all of its dimensions. We have seen it in its international dimensions in the form of colonialism and imperialism. – MLK, 1958 Commencement Address, Morgan St College
…that you are finishing college in a most ghastly period of human history. They would contend that the rhythmic beat of the deep rumblings of discontent from Asia, the uprisings in Africa, the social and political crisis facing France… and the racial tensions of America…are all indicative of the deep and desolate midnight, which encompasses our civilization.
They would say to you that we are moving backwards instead of forward; that we are retrogressing instead of progressing. But far from representing retrogression and tragic meaninglessness, the present tensions represent the usual pains that accompany the birth of anything new. They seem to be both historically and biologically true; that there can be no birth and growth without birth and growing pains.– MLK, 1958 Commencement Address, Morgan St College
I have the personal faith that mankind will somehow rise up to the occasion and give new directions to an age drifting rapidly to its doom. In spite of the tensions and uncertainties of this period something profoundly meaningful is taking place. Old systems of exploitation and oppression are passing away, and out of the womb of a frail world new systems of justice and equality are being born. Doors of opportunity are gradually being opened to those at the bottom of society. The shirtless and barefoot people of the land are developing a new sense of “some-bodiness” and carving a tunnel of hope through the dark mountain of despair. “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light.” Here and there an individual or group dares to love, and rises to the majestic heights of moral maturity. So in a real sense this is a great time to be alive.–MLK, Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech
Disappointment, sorrow, and despair are born at midnight, but morning follows. “Weeping may endure for a night,” says the Psalmist, “but joy cometh in the morning.” This faith adjourns the assemblies of hopelessness and brings new light into the dark chambers of pessimism. - MLK, A Knock at Midnight
The most inspiring word that the church must speak is that no midnight long remains. The weary traveller by midnight who asks for bread is really seeking the dawn. Our eternal message of hope is that dawn will come. - MLK, A Knock at Midnight
… in which people from all levels of life come together to affirm their oneness and unity under God. At midnight men are altogether ignored because of their limited education, or they are given bread that has been hardened by the winter of morbid class consciousness. - MLK, A Knock at Midnight
and, recovering its great historic mission, will speak and act fearlessly and insistently in terms of justice and peace, it will enkindle the imagination of mankind and fire the souls of men, imbuing them with a glowing and ardent love for truth, justice, and peace. Men far and near will know the church as a great fellowship of love that provides light and bread for lonely travellers at midnight. - MLK, A Knock at Midnight
