Behind the Dream : The Making of the Speech That Transformed a Nation

An insider's account of the creation of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous speech that rallied a generation and galvanized the Civil Rights Movement 'I have a dream.' When those words were spoken on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963, in front of a quarter of a million people, it marked a turning point in history-not just for America, but for the world.

As the crowd stood, electrified, Martin Luther King, Jr. brought the plight of African Americans to the public consciousness and firmly established himself as one of the greatest orators of all time.

The speech is commonly regarded-along with the Gettysburg Address and FDR's Infamy Speech-as one of the finest in American history. Behind the Dream is the thrilling, behind-the-scenes story of the weeks leading up to the great event-the government paranoia, the clashing egos, and the last minute legal pad brainstorming -as the Movement battled the clock to bring the impossibly complicated March on Washington to life.

As told by Clarence B. Jones himself, who was not only Dr. King's personal counsel, advisor, and close friend, but the man who helped Dr. King shape and craft his speech, this important piece of U.S. history sheds new light on the speech that defined the Civil Rights Movement and paved the way for a new America.