Primary sourceSpeech3 April 1968
I've Been to the Mountaintop
Martin Luther King Jr. · 3 April 1968
King's final speech, given in Memphis the night before his assassination, supporting striking sanitation workers.
King's last public words, given hours before his assassination, tying economic justice to his broader mission.
About this source
What it is
This is the last speech Martin Luther King Jr. delivered, given on April 3, 1968, at Mason Temple in Memphis, Tennessee, in support of the Memphis sanitation workers' strike.
Why it matters
King called for unity, economic boycotts and nonviolent protest to achieve justice for the striking workers. Near the end, he spoke about threats to his life and the possibility of an untimely death, saying he was not afraid. He was assassinated the following day.
Look closer
- Why do you think King spoke about his own possible death the night before he was killed?
- How might knowing what happened the next day change how you read or hear this speech?
- What does the plaque at Mason Temple tell us about how this speech is remembered?
This speech is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Martin Luther King Jr. on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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