Martin Luther King Jr. delivers the closing address at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom to more than 250,000 people from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
At a Glance
- Date
- 28 August 1963
- Location
- Washington, D.C.
- Key people
- Martin Luther King Jr., A. Philip Randolph, Bayard Rustin
- Category
- Civil Rights Movement
- Source
- Speech recording, August 28, 1963 · Library of Congress
What It Meant Then
It became the defining oration of the civil rights movement and helped build momentum for landmark legislation.
What It Means Now
The speech is among the most celebrated in American history.
Also on 28 August
Cite this page
- MLA
- “'I Have a Dream'.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/i-have-a-dream/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). 'I Have a Dream'. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/i-have-a-dream/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “'I Have a Dream'.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/i-have-a-dream/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.