Summary
Highlights
During the speech, gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, who was on the podium, shouted to Dr. King, "Tell him about the dream, Martin! Tell him about the dream!" This pivotal moment led King to slide his prepared text aside.
The 'I Have a Dream' speech consisted of two parts: the prepared, written text, and the extemporaneous portion. Clarence B. Jones, who drafted ideas for Dr. King, clarifies that he did not craft the 'I Have a Dream' speech itself, but rather the initial seven paragraphs of the prepared text.
After Jackson's interjection, King put aside his written speech, looked out at the assembled crowd of over 250,000, and delivered the now-famous, extemporaneous 'I Have a Dream' section. This spontaneous part is the most celebrated portion of the speech, and it was not originally planned.
When first hearing King use the phrase "I have a dream," Clarence B. Jones found it very poetical and creative, playing to King's strength as an orator who could create vivid images with his words.
Jones, who had heard Dr. King speak many times before, states that he had never heard him speak with such passion and a unique quality as he did on August 28th. He likens the experience to "capturing lightning in a bottle."