Each year, MLK Jr. Day hits me harder than any other holiday, such a wallop of awe, hope, indignation, strength, and sorrow that I don't know what to do with myself.
This year, I have a plan. After listening to a few MLK Jr. compilations on CD, I picked a six-minute excerpt from an address he gave on June 17, 1962, at Zion Hill Church in Los Angeles. When I'm home for the holiday this January 15th, I will play the recording.
For my family and friends who won't be with me that day (and anyone else who likes this idea), here is the mp3:
06-17-62_MLKJr_Excerpt.mp3 (5:50, 5.5 MB)
If the audio doesn't work for you, click here for my transcription of the recording.
About the audio file: I copied the track from Martin Luther King, Jr.: We Shall Overcome, a CD released by SpeechWorks/ SoundWorks International, Inc., in 2000. On the CD, the track listing reads, "We Must Work," with June 17, 1966, as the date of the address. I learned through online research that the month and day are accurate but that 1962 is the correct year.
Love,
Alexandra
alexandraringe@gmail.com
P.S. Thank you to Jim Hanas and Kirsten Wheaton for their editorial and technological help.