“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

Fifty years ago today, on August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his iconic “I have a dream” speech to more than 250,000 people on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Offering a simple but powerful clarification of the founding promise of the United States that “all men are created equal,” Dr. King’s remarkable words—many of which were improvised—were a catalyst of civil rights reform and remain an incredible inspiration to generations of Americans.

Today, I encourage you to take a moment out of your busy day to read or listen to Dr. King’s historic speech. For more information about this civil rights hero, check out the Free Library’s many staff recommendation lists, including books by Dr. King as well as books about him for children and adults. You can also listen to our free podcasts by acclaimed authors who have written about Dr. King and his legacy, like Michael Eric Dyson and Taylor Branch.