CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I have a Dream” speech is being recited in Charleston.
Community members read the speech at the Clay Center Wednesday to mark the 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s assassination.
“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,” one person read to a group of Kanawha County students.
Dr. King delivered the speech during the March on Washington in August 1963.
Wednesday’s event titled “Reimagine the Dream” was hosted by YWCA Charleston. Don Wilson, who serves as co-chair of the YWCA Racial Justice Committee, said he continues to be inspired by the late civil activist.
“The bravery that it took to stand in the face of all the adversity that was against him — how can you not admire and be motivated by that?” he told MetroNews.
Not only was a King a powerful speaker, Wilson said King put words to action.
“He rose to prominence and lead a number of things. Most famous for his ‘I have a Dream’ speech, but was an actor not a dreamer,” he said.
Wilson said the YWCA consistently works to fulfill their mission of eliminating racism and empowering women.
“We want to make sure that we’re doing both of those. We are in charge of eliminating the racism around here that still exists. It just exists in a different way,” he said.
In Washington, D.C., people rallied together to honor King’s legacy and push for an end to racism.