Knit to This
On the Quest for Peace and Justice, by Martin Luther King, Jr.
When Martin Luther King, Jr. became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, he was 35. It was 1964, amid the turmoil of a national effort to pass civil rights legislation. He was in the absolute center of that effort.
King gave two addresses in Oslo, Norway: an acceptance speech on December 10, and a lecture the following day.
You can watch King deliver his acceptance speech up top. The blurry black-and-white video remains utterly riveting as King delivers his message in his measured, sonorous cadence.
It’s another thing entirely to read his own words and see once again the clarity of purpose, the simplicity of message, and the abiding hope that love can triumph over hate. You can read the acceptance speech here.
The lecture, “The Quest for Peace and Justice,” is here. It’s equally pure in its message that racism, poverty, and war are the three problems that must be overcome.
If ever there were a time to redouble efforts for peace and justice, this is it. I hope you’ll take a moment to hear this voice from the past.
I’ll leave you with this one quote from a lecture that is endlessly quotable. King writes: “When I speak of love I am not speaking of some sentimental and weak response which is little more than emotional bosh. I am speaking of that force which all of the great religions have seen as the supreme unifying principle of life. Love is somehow the key that unlocks the door which leads to ultimate reality.”
Thank You
Yes. This. Thank you.
Thank you for this, Ann.
I was alive when the dark days of lynching and segregation were the norm. It was a time before computers When television was the conduit for real news, when MLK wrote and marched, when he was killed.
Alive still to witness the storming of our Capitol Building, the dismantling of our democracy, the disregard for the well-being of citizens, and the dual weapons of cruelty and force used to control rather than govern.
MLK’s wisdom is needed now more than ever.
Thank you for sharing this message. I was a teenager when Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement filled my life and consumed my thinking. I lived thousands of miles away from their work but was witness to its efforts and outcomes in my little town. Love is a key, love is the key. Well done. G. Susie
I am horrified by the cruelty disdain and lack of human rights displayed each day in a country I was once proud of. I so hope I will live long enough, I am 80, to no longer be in fear of WW III, have a president who is not a felon racist and several other things to many to mention.
My knitting friend sent me a link for a hat pattern, a wonderful story of the Norwegian 1940s protest hat that the Nazis made illegal and perfect for my next march! https://www.ravelry.com/pattern/library/melt-the-ice-hat
Thank you.
Thank you, and thank you, Kay and Ann and all at MDK.
Yes, those were dark days. I grew up in Northern California, and of course racism was everywhere back then, but I was insulated from the reality of Jim Crow laws in the South. Those images on television, the snarling dogs and the fire hoses on crowds of people changed that. All the events of the 60’s, the assassinations, the marches for civil rights, protests to end the war in Vietnam, Kent State, Watergate…It was tumultuous times, but oh my, how horrified I was by the events of January 6. How horrified I am by the undisciplined and uncontrolled actions of ICE, by the enthusiastic cruelty. I am out marching again in hopes that our country returns to a more kind and measured approach to respecting our differences and settling our issues.
With all due respect, I’m probably older than you and I have to say that although segregation was horrible, thank the Lord, lynching was never the “norm.”
Our democracy is not being dismantled. If it were, we wouldn’t have the right to protest. Peaceful protesting is one thing, but people with brains should know not to use their cars as weapons against officers who have guns. (Do you remember Kent State? It’s risky to throw rocks at the National Guard!)
The whole point of ICE is to protect citizens. People who are in this country illegally are not citizens. You and I can’t just travel to a European country and put down roots. A country without borders isn’t a country.
That said, let’s not conflate the racism of the 20th Century to our current events today. That takes away the dignity of the work of Dr. Martin Luther King and the progress that has been made.
None so blind as those who refuse to see.
Well stated. Thank you. – Vivian
Regarding lynching, people may differ on what constitutes a “norm.” I recommend reading the Equal Justice Initiative’s report, which can be found here: https://lynchinginamerica.eji.org/
It certainly was not uncommon, or undocumented.
Thank you Kay.
Amen Sister!
I disagree. I too remember Kent State very clearly; and the National Guard being higher on a ridge shooting down on those students with absolutely no regard for who might have been holding a rock, or just get through the crowd to their class.
Your idealized version of ICE is out of step with the terrorists currently roaming American streets. Hiding their faces, cursing at Americans exercising their rights to free speech, and totally ignorant of the constitutional rights of ANY person who lives in this country.
Well-said, Nancy! Thank you!
I’m British and I too lived through all these years too
. It saddens me to see what is happening now and I hope we can learn from people like Martin Luther King. We must not lose hope that good will win out in the end.
Hear hear
Well stated, Kathleen. I lived through all of this as well.
As did I. I remember that the day I learned of Dr. King’s assasination, the sun turned a deep blood red in the sky. I hope, within our lifetime, we will once again see a return to the ideas he sacrificed so much to realize.
I’m British and I too lived through all these years too
. It saddens me to see what is happening now and I hope we can learn from people like Martin Luther King. We must not lose hope that good will win out in the end.
Yes, thank you Kathleen. I’m 75, and memories of those “dark days” – including the more recent January 6 insurrection – are fresh and frightening. Who knew, back in the 60’s and 70’s, that we would struggle toward peace and justice for decades, only to come around to this nightmare today.
Wishing everyone peace in your heart, and the strength to struggle on.
Thank you for this reminder that once, in my lifetime, real leaders lived among us.
I would simply echo “Linda C”‘s comment-At one time (fortunately) in our lifetime, “real leaders lived among us”.
They still do live among us.
True & real leaders still do live & work & walk among us. They may not (yet) be at the fore & holding the controls, but they are still among us. It is not easy to assume those controls & that does take time which often means we face times of uncertainty, unrest, even chaos.
Some of those leaders have worked in the back rooms holding onto the fraying threads.
Some of those leaders are beginning to step into local & regional spotlights.
Others are still finding their calling & building their resolve.
Have patience.
Have faith.
Have courage.
Well said.
Thank you Ann.
Thank you, Ann.
Thank you for sharing this. We need it more than ever.
Thank you for posting this.
If only those entrusted with our fragile democracy could hear and internalize this, we wouldn’t be in such dark days.
Amen.
Ann, thank you. Dr. King’s words need to be heard every day by everyone. I hope this reaches the ears of those truly trying to be peacemakers as we remember him this weekend.
Absolutely, this! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
What a speech! So eloquent and on point. We need someone like Martin Luther King, Jr. now in this time of crisis on our country. I keep praying he or she will come forward.
Thank you all for your words. After last night’s news I was feeling so hopeless this morning.
Breathtaking is the only word for me to describe the beauty, clarity, and grace of MLKs speech. I often wonder what he would think of our nation today, as race relations have only moderatly improved over the last 60+ years.
Perhaps unrelated but somehow hinged, for me, is what’s currently happening in Greenland/Denmark. As a Danish citizen living in the US since immigrating with my family as a child, and my family at home in Denmark, there is definitely a feeling of persecution and unfair justice in all our hearts. I will send Martin Luther King’s POWERFUL speech to my cousin in Denmark. Thank you for covering this story MDK, particularly this morning.
Thank you for including the video of MLK. To think that he was only 35 when he won the Peace Prize. A remarkable man!
Thank you, I needed this today.
Thank you so much for this. I needed to hear it this morning.
Thank you.
A courageous man.
Stunning. Thank you for this. Listening to him never gets old. I remember it all. And am deeply saddened and frightened by what we are currently living through. I believe Dr. King would be as well and he would be protesting with us. And I know he would be hopeful for us as well…
Wow, what a human and so eloquent. What a loss to all of us who are now left with the unintelligible inhuman ignorant leaders we now have.
Oh my. Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you for reminding us of the realism of MLK!
I grew up in NYC during the 60s. Yes, I
am old. I have a memory that sticks w/ me. I was returning home on a
Greyhound bus from Boston. It was packed. It was only after I got home I realized that most of the bus was on its way to the march on Washington!
I was 13. Still today I remember bits of conversation about the March. We would all be wise to carry his words
not just at his birthday, but always.
Thank you for sharing this — I don’t think I’ve ever read this speech.
This paragraph spoke to me — it was true then, and we need it still today:
“. . .I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant. I believe that even amid today’s mortar bursts and whining bullets, there is still hope for a brighter tomorrow. I believe that wounded justice, lying prostrate on the blood-flowing streets of our nations, can be lifted from this dust of shame to reign supreme among the children of men. I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits. I believe that what self-centered men have torn down men other-centered can build up. I still believe that one day mankind will bow before the altars of God and be crowned triumphant over war and bloodshed, and nonviolent redemptive good will proclaim the rule of the land. “And the lion and the lamb shall lie down together and every man shall sit under his own vine and fig tree and none shall be afraid.” I still believe that we shall overcome!”
Dear MDK,
THANK YOU for this post.
I am a Canadian. I was a student in the 60s. This is the neighbour we had, that inspired us, and I pray we will one day have again.
Thank you, Ann, for sharing Dr King’s wisdom and vision. It is a necessary reminder that even in dark days, there is light. I will be mindful of his words of hope.
Sharing this article here because it is so well written and hopefully will be a message of hope. https://www.umnews.org/en/news/martin-luther-king-jr-and-the-work-we-havent-finished?fbclid=IwdGRjcAPaEapleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xNzM4NDc2NDI2NzAzNzAAAR62m9Ts2yBVpvzANkNtGO-8pXs44HsUg10lLIypmLyK2JGz05eBfIb9Wkv0Kg_aem_bOCl6oBNXZtIhjHlzj9zSw
Thank you Ann! How far we’ve come…and how far we haven’t come.
Dr. King’s words were the basis for this morning’s sermon. This in particular moved me:
“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”
May it be so.
Thank you to MDK. Proud to be a Society member. Again.
Thank you Ann for sharing this beautiful speech.,our country needed him so and still does .
I loved MLK and hearing this made me cry .
Thank you so much for this. I really need this message of hope right now.
Thank you for this. We need all the intelligence of Leaders like Marin Luther King to remind us that we can still maintain honor and respect for others and for the world. We truly need these qualities now.
Really appreciate your posting this. We need
Yes. Thanks for this much needed reflection. I wish this could get through toe everyone ….alas.
Simply, completely, THANK YOU. And yes, I was shouting .
But I like what J Diane said. THERE IS HOPE (yep, ditto). At 68, I’ve never seen anything like what is happening in the US now, not even the tumult and assassinations and riots and fires of 1968 threatened our nation like what is happening now. World War 2 was an external thread, but today the threat comes from within.
But also coming from within is a unity and resistance and determination that I have not seen before. I was a US Foreign Service officer (diplomat), as was my father, my mother was FS staff, my half brothers were Marines. The Oath of Office is at the core of my being, and this administration makes me heartsick and ashamed.
But the increasingly loud rejection of what this administration is doing gives me hope, especially since at long last honorable people on both sides of the political spectrum are starting to speak out. So go hug and thank someone whose political opinions you don’t necessarily share but who is speaking out for democracy and rule of law.
We have three more years to endure–let’s resist together.
Thank you so much for sharing these now. I needed his words.
I’ve been thinking lately of my 14 year old self in 1968. I thought this Country could never survive the hate dividing us.
One step forward with hope all to be torn back down with hate and lies. I wish I could be more optimistic. This tearing down of all the things we should fight hard for seems so lost now.
Thank you Ann for showing the true meaning of the peace prize. Dr. King’s words still bring hope and love. I hope they aren’t lost in the anger and hate broiling over .
Thank you for this.
From the 2025 Presidential Proclamation on MLK Jr day:
” … the power to redeem the soul of America has always been in the hands of “We the People.” Together, we can do our best to see each other not as enemies but as neighbors; to believe in and practice honesty, decency, and respect; and to fight for freedom, justice and democracy.
“Today, we remember Dr. King as a towering spiritual leader and a lifelong warrior for equality and justice. … Dr. King’s story is a reminder that progress is never easy—but it is always possible—and that good things get done on our march toward a more perfect Union. We have never lived up to the ideals of our Nation, but we have never walked away from them either. May we be inspired by Dr. King’s path and motivated by his legacy, working together to build a world founded on freedom, equality, and justice for all.”
Progress is never easy, but it is always possible, so long as we stubbornly do our best to see each other not as enemies but as neighbors; to believe in and practice honesty, decency, and respect; and to fight for freedom, justice and democracy.