Three Black Men

In the last week or so, I have been thinking quite a bit about the confluence of events that is today and tomorrow. Today, we celebrate the life of one extraordinary black man in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tomorrow, we inaugurate our first African-American president in Barack Obama. Thinking of these two men has made me think even more about one of my favorite historical figures, Malcolm X.

These men have diverse opinions and are spread over different generations and movements, but one thing they absolutely share is their gift for public oratory. It is truly amazing what can be conveyed through speech: information and meaning, emotion and passion, dedication and fanaticism.

Thanks to the magic of the inteweb and youtube, I have picked one speech from each that is worth listening to. The clips are imbeded below. I know not many of us have a spare half-hour to listen to amazing oratory, but please take a minute to listen to a little of each. They are worth your while. And I would love to hear what you think.

From Dr. King, his last public speech in 1968. He was in Memphis for the sanitation workers' strike that had been going on for some time. This is just the end of the speech, and it is eerily prophetic.



From Malcolm X, the first half of his Ballot or the Bullet speech from 1964. This speech was given after he had split from the Nation of Islam and taken a Haj to Mecca. His perspective on race in America was rapidly changing, and this is evident in his rhetoric.



From Barack Obama, his victory speech from the Iowa Caucus. This was my moment of conversion. I couldn't turn off the radio, even though it was creeping up on midnight, and I just lay in bed and listened to him speak. And I may have cried a little. He may have better speeches. He may give a better speech tomorrow. But I will always love this speech. This was the moment when I both knew I wanted him to be my president and that he could truly become my president.