WABE’s Rose Scott reports it’s a speech that almost didn’t happen.

Dr. King was in Memphis to support striking sanitation workers at the headquarters of the Mason Temple Church of God in Christ.

He began his speech with a visionary tale of an imaginary journey that God allows him to take throughout history.

King also talks about living in turbulent times and he’s optimistic about the future.

“Strangely enough, I would turn to the Almighty, and say, “If you allow me to live just a few years in the second half of the 20th century, I will be happy” King told the packed church.

Less than 20 minutes long and like most of his speeches, Dr. King didn’t pre-write anything.

He wasn’t scheduled to speak at the church that night.

Dr. Rev. Ralph Abernathy was.

At this time, Dorothy Cotton was the education director for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Cotton, Dr. King and others were meeting in King’s room to discuss strategy regarding the sanitation workers…when phone rang.

“But when Rev. Abernathy called and said you have to get over here because they were expecting you Dr. King got off the bed and left the group of us in his room to continue to discuss the discussion, he went over to the church and he made that last speech” recalls Dorothy Cotton.

A speech says Cotton delivered by a very exhausted Dr. King.

What are often highlighted in Dr. King’s last public appearance are the references to the mountaintop and the Promised Land.

The speech has become etched in American history and civil rights activist Dorothy Cotton always remembers,

“I may not get there with you but my people will get to the promise land and I’ve been to the mountaintop and I’ve seen the promise land but the fact that he said I may not get there with you many people have thought is very, as my grandmother would say, very telling.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!

And so I’m happy, tonight.I’m not worried about anything.I’m not fearing any man!

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!”

Web Extra:

Complete video of Dr. King’s final speech in Memphis [the section about going to the mountaintop begins at about 19:45]