Martin Luther King, Jr., "What Is Your Life's Blueprint?"
Summary
TLDRIn this empowering speech at Barrett Junior High School, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. emphasizes the importance of having a life blueprint for students, urging them to believe in their own dignity and strive for excellence in their chosen fields. He encourages embracing one's heritage, not being ashamed of one's color, and setting high standards for oneself. He also highlights the achievements of notable African Americans, advocating for nonviolent struggle for justice and the pursuit of beauty, love, and justice in life.
Takeaways
- 🎓 **Educational Importance**: Emphasizes the importance of education and staying in school despite difficult circumstances.
- 🏆 **Excellence**: Encourages striving for excellence in whatever field one chooses to pursue.
- 🖌️ **Self-Worth**: Promotes a deep belief in one's own dignity and worth, regardless of societal stigmas.
- 🌟 **Pursuit of Dreams**: Inspires to dream big and work hard to achieve those dreams.
- 👥 **Role Models**: Highlights the stories of successful African Americans as examples to follow.
- 🌈 **Color Pride**: Encourages pride in one's race and not to be ashamed of one's color or features.
- 💪 **Determination**: Stresses the need for determination and the will to overcome obstacles.
- 🌎 **Global Impact**: Suggests that excellence in one's work can have a global impact and inspire others.
- 🤝 **Unity and Struggle**: Calls for unity in the struggle for freedom, justice, and equality.
- ✊ **Non-Violence**: Advocates for non-violent methods in the fight for civil rights and social change.
Q & A
Who is the speaker addressing in the transcript?
-The speaker is addressing the students of Barrett Junior High School in Philadelphia.
What is the main theme of the speech?
-The main theme of the speech is the importance of having a life's blueprint that includes self-worth, excellence, and commitment to justice.
What does the speaker suggest should be the first thing in one's life's blueprint?
-The first thing in one's life's blueprint should be a deep belief in one's own dignity, worth, and value.
Why does the speaker emphasize not being ashamed of one's color?
-The speaker emphasizes not being ashamed of one's color to counter societal stigmas and to promote self-acceptance and self-love.
What is the significance of the phrase 'I am black but beautiful' mentioned in the speech?
-The phrase 'I am black but beautiful' is significant as it promotes self-affirmation and pride in one's racial identity.
What does the speaker mean by 'doors of opportunity'?
-The speaker refers to 'doors of opportunity' as the increasing chances and possibilities for success that were not available to previous generations.
Why does the speaker urge students to stay in school despite difficult circumstances?
-The speaker urges students to stay in school because education is a pathway to seize the opportunities that are opening up for them.
What is the importance of striving for excellence according to the speaker?
-Striving for excellence is important because it allows individuals to achieve their full potential and make significant contributions to society.
What role models does the speaker mention to inspire the students?
-The speaker mentions figures like Booker T. Washington, Marian Anderson, Roland Hayes, George Washington Carver, Ralph Bunche, Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, Jesse Owens, Joe Louis, and Muhammad Ali as role models.
What is the speaker's stance on nonviolence?
-The speaker advocates for nonviolence as a method of struggle that can be militant without destroying life or property.
How does the speaker conclude his speech?
-The speaker concludes his speech by quoting Langston Hughes' poem 'Mother to Son', encouraging perseverance and continuous progress despite life's challenges.
Outlines
🎤 Introduction and Invitation
The speaker begins by warmly welcoming the guests and expressing gratitude to the principal and administration of Barrett Junior High School for inviting him to speak. He mentions his busy schedule in Philadelphia and highlights an upcoming event at the Spectrum featuring renowned artists like Harry Belafonte and Aretha Franklin. The speaker encourages the students to attend the event to support the civil rights movement. He then transitions to address the students directly about the importance of having a life blueprint, comparing it to the architectural blueprints used in construction.
💪 Embracing Self-Worth and Excellence
In the second paragraph, the speaker emphasizes the importance of self-respect and dignity, encouraging students to take pride in their racial identity and not to be ashamed of their color or features. He advises against conforming to societal pressures that may lead to self-hatred. The speaker also stresses the need for excellence in whatever field the students choose to pursue, highlighting the opportunities that are opening up for them and urging them to be prepared to seize these opportunities. He quotes Ralph Waldo Emerson to motivate the students to excel and not just settle for being 'a good Negro' in their chosen professions.
🌟 Pursuing Excellence in All Roles
The speaker continues to inspire the students by urging them to strive for excellence in their chosen roles, using the analogy of a street sweeper to illustrate that any job can be done with passion and skill. He encourages the students to be the best they can be, regardless of their circumstances, and to take pride in their work. The speaker then provides examples of successful African Americans who have overcome adversity to achieve greatness, such as Booker T. Washington, Marian Anderson, Roland Hayes, George Washington Carver, Ralph Bunche, Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, Jesse Owens, Joe Louis, and Muhammad Ali.
🕊️ Commitment to Beauty, Love, and Justice
In the fourth paragraph, the speaker discusses the importance of committing to the principles of beauty, love, and justice. He advises the students not to let anyone make them hate or lose their self-respect. The speaker emphasizes the responsibility of the youth to work towards making their nation better and to be involved in the struggle for freedom and justice. He advocates for nonviolent methods in the struggle, quoting Langston Hughes' poem 'Mother to Son' to encourage perseverance and continuous progress.
👏 Closing Remarks
The final paragraph consists of applause, indicating the end of the speaker's address. It signifies the audience's appreciation for the message delivered.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Blueprint
💡Dignity
💡Excellence
💡Integration
💡Nonviolence
💡Self-respect
💡Freedom Festival
💡Struggle
💡Achievement
💡Race
💡Justice
Highlights
The importance of having a life's blueprint and how the decisions made in youth can shape one's future.
The necessity of a deep belief in one's own dignity, worth, and significance.
The message of not being ashamed of one's race or biological features, embracing the phrase 'I am black but beautiful'.
The encouragement to strive for excellence in one's chosen field and to take advantage of new opportunities.
The advice to study hard, stay in school, and pursue one's life's work with dedication.
The metaphor of life as not being a crystal stair, implying that progress may be difficult and uneven.
The call to be the best in whatever one does, regardless of the size or perceived importance of the job.
The examples of notable African Americans who overcame adversity to achieve greatness, such as Booker T. Washington and Marian Anderson.
The emphasis on the importance of self-respect and the struggle for justice in the face of oppression.
The advocacy for nonviolent methods in the struggle for civil rights and social change.
The call to action for young people to be involved in the fight for freedom and justice.
The use of the slogan 'Learn baby learn, so that we can earn baby earn' to encourage education and economic empowerment.
The vision of transforming dark yesterdays of injustice into bright tomorrows of justice and humanity.
The closing words, a quote from Langston Hughes' poem 'Mother to Son', urging perseverance and continued progress despite life's challenges.
The importance of commitment to eternal principles of beauty, love, and justice in one's life's blueprint.
The reminder that human nature cannot be catalogued and that individuals can rise above oppression to achieve greatness.
The encouragement to not measure oneself by race but by the content of one's character and achievements.
Transcripts
and help welcome our honored
distinguished guests the Reverend dr.
Martin Luther King
[Applause]
thank you very kindly principle for nazy
mr. Williams
members of the faculty and members of
the student body
barrett junior high school ladies and
gentlemen i need not pause to say
they're delighted I am to be here today
and to have the opportunity of taking a
brief break in a pretty busy schedule in
the city of Philadelphia to share with
you the students of Barrett junior high
school and I want to express my personal
appreciation to the principal and the
administration for inviting me and for
giving me the opportunity to see this
very fine than enthusiastic group of
students here at Barrett I guess I ought
to start out with a commercial and that
is tonight we're gonna have a great
night in the city of Philadelphia after
spectrum I know you've heard of that new
impressive structure called the spectrum
and I know you've heard of Harry
Belafonte and Aretha Franklin and nipsey
Russell and Sidney Poitier and all of
these other great and outstanding
artists well they're going to be here
tonight at the spectrum and I hope that
each of you will go home and tell your
parents to be that a night for this
great freedom festival and I hope you
will come also
it will be a great experience and by
coming you will be supporting the work
of the civil rights movement now that
I've gotten the commercial out of the
way move on and say some things that I
want to say very briefly and I'm being
brown honest I'm going to be brief
because I have other engagements I don't
have a tradition of being briefed all
the time you know I'm a Baptist
preaching we can talk a long time but
I'm gonna really be brief today I want
to ask you a question and that is what
is in your life's blueprint
this is the most important and crucial
period of your lives for what you do now
and what you decide now at this age may
well determine which way your life shall
go and whenever a building is
constructed you usually have an
architect who draws a blueprint and that
blueprint serves as the pattern as the
guide as the model for those who are to
build the building and a building is not
well erected without a good sound and
solid blueprint now each of you is in
the process of building the structure of
your lives and the question is whether
you have a proper a solid and a sound
blueprint and I want to suggest some of
the things that should be in your life's
blueprint
number one in your life's blueprint
should be a deep belief in your own
dignity your own Worth and your own
somebody nice don't allow anybody to
make you feel that you are nobody always
feel that you count always feel that you
have Worth and all always feel that your
life has ultimate significance now that
means that you should not be ashamed of
your color you know it's very
unfortunate that in so many instances
our society has placed a stigma on the
Negroes color and you know there are
some Negroes who are ashamed of
themselves but don't be ashamed of your
color don't be ashamed of your
biological features somehow you must be
able to say in your own lives and really
believe it I am black but beautiful and
[Applause]
and therefore you need not be loved into
purchasing cosmetics advertise to make
you lighter neither do you need to
process your hair to make it appear
straight and it as good as anybody
else's have in the world
[Applause]
now in your life's blueprint be sure
that you have there a principle of
somebody 'no secondly in your life's
blueprint you must have as a basic
principle the determination to achieve
excellence in your various fields of
endeavor you're going to be deciding as
the days and the years unfold what you
will do in life what your life's work
will be and once you discover what it
will be set out to do it and to do it
well and I say to you my young friends
that doors are opening to each of you
doors of opportunity opening to each of
you that were not open to your mother's
and to your father's and the great
challenge facing you is to be ready to
enter these doors as they open Ralph
Waldo Emerson the great essay has said
in a lecture back in 1871 that if a man
can write a better book of preach a
better sermon I'll make a better
mousetrap than his neighbor even if he
builds his house in the woods the world
will make a beaten path to his door that
hadn't always been true but it will
become increasingly truth and so I would
urge you to study hard to burn the
midnight oil I would say to you don't
drop out of school and I understand all
of the sociological reasons why we often
drop out of school but I urge you in
spite of your economic plight in spite
of the situation that you are forced to
live so often with intolerable
conditions stay in school and when you
discover what you're gonna be in life
set out to do it as if God Almighty
called you at this particular moment in
history to do it
and just don't set out to do a good
Negro job but do a good job that anybody
could do don't set out to be just a good
Negro doctor or good Negro lawyer good
Negro school teacher a good Negro
preacher a good Negro bar bar beautician
a good Negro skilled laborer for if you
set out to do that you have already flux
your matriculation exam for entrance
into the university of integration
central to do a good job and do that job
so called at the living the dead of
unborn couldn't do it any better
Falls you'll love to be a streetsweeper
sweep streets like Michelangelo painted
pictures sweep streets like Beethoven
composed music sweep streets like Liam
teen pricings before the metric
Metropolitan Opera and sweep streets
like Shakespeare wrote poetry sweep
streets so well that all the hosts of
heaven and earth will have to pause and
say here lived a great street sweeper
who swept his job well
if you can't be a pine on the top of the
hill be a scrub in the valley but be the
best little scrub on the side of the
real be a bush if you can't be a tree if
you can't be a highway just be a trail
if you can't be the Sun be a star for it
isn't my size that you win are you fail
be the best of whatever you are
[Applause]
we always we already have some noble
examples of black men and black women
who demonstrated to us that human nature
cannot be catalogued they and their own
lives have walked through long and
desolate nights of oppression and yet
they've risen up in plunged against
cloud field nights of affliction new and
blazing stars of inspiration and so from
an old slave cabin of Virginia's heels
Booker T Washington rose up to be one of
America's grid leaders he lit a torch in
Alabama and darkness flared in that
setting yes you should know this because
it's in your own city from a
poverty-stricken area of Philadelphia
Pennsylvania Maren Anderson rose up to
be the world's greatest contralto so
that a Toscanini could say that a voice
like this comes on to once in a century
and sibelius of Finland could say my
roof is too low for such a voice from
the Red Hills of Gordon County Georgia
and the harms of a mother who can
neither read nor write
roll and haze rolls up to be one of the
world's great singers and carried his
melodious voice into the palaces and
mansions of kings and queens from
crippling circumstances there came a
George Washington Carver to carve for
himself an imperishable niche in the
annals of science
there was a start in the diplomatic sky
and then came Ralph Bunche the grandson
of a slave preacher and he reached up
and grabbed it and allowed it to shine
in his life with all of its
scintillating beauty there was a star in
the air
sky then came Jackie Robinson in his day
and Willie Mays in his day with that
powerful bats in that calm spirits in
came Jesse Owens with his fleet and
dashing feet then came Joe Lewis and
Muhammad Ali with intoxicated fists all
of them came to tell us that we can be
somebody and to justify the conviction
of the port flee salats and black
complexion cannot forfeit nature's claim
skin may differ but affection dwells in
black and white the same and if I was so
tall less to reach the pole to grasp of
the ocean at a span I must be measured
by my soul the mind is a standard of the
man finally
and finally in your life's blueprint
must be a commitment to the eternal
principles of beauty love and justice
don't allow anybody to pull you so low
as to make you hate them don't allow
anybody to cause you to lose your
self-respect to the point that you do
not struggle for justice
however young you are you have a
responsibility to seek to make your
nation a better nation in which to live
you have a responsibility to seek to
make life better for everybody and so
you must be involved in the struggle for
freedom and justice now in this struggle
for freedom and justice there are many
constructive things that we all can do
and that we all must do and we must not
give ourselves to those things which
will not solve our problems you heard
the word nonviolent and you've heard the
word violent I happen to believe in
non-violence we struggled with this
method with young people and adults
alike all over the south and we have won
some significant victories and we've got
to struggle with it all over the North
because the problems are as serious in
the north as they are in the south but I
believe as we struggle with these
problems we've got a struggle with them
with a method that can be militant
but at the same time does not destroy
life of property and so our slogan must
not be burn baby burn
it must be big Oh baby bill
yes our slogan must be learn baby learn
so that we can earn baby earn
[Applause]
and with a powerful commitment I believe
that we can transform dark yesterday's
of injustice and to bright tomorrow's of
justice and humanity let us keep going
toward the gold of selfhood to the
realization of the dream of brotherhood
and toward the realization of the dream
of understanding goodwill let nobody
stop us I close by quoting once more the
man that the young lady quoted that
magnificent black bard who is now passed
on Langston Hughes one day he wrote a
poem entitled mother to son the mother
didn't always have a grandma right but
she uttered words of great symbolic for
fun dirty well son I'll tell you life
for me ain't been no crystal stared it's
had tax in it
boards torn up places with no carpet on
the floor bare but all the time I've
been a climbing on and reaching landings
and turning corners and sometimes going
in the dark but ain't been no light so
boy don't you stop now don't you set out
on the steps because you finds us kind
of hard but I was still going boy I
still climbing and life for me ain't
been no crystal stair well life for none
of us has been a crystal style but we
must keep moving we must keep going if
you can't fly run if you can't run walk
if you can't walk crawl but by all means
keep moving
[Applause]
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