I have a Dream put to music. I first heard this track at an AIDS Dance-a-thon in the early 90s. I remember thinking, I’m dancing to Martin.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
~ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
His final words were to ask for a beautiful song to be played the evening of his death.
“Ben, make sure you play ‘Take My Hand, Precious Lord’. Play it real pretty”, are said to be the last words of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr, just before he stepped out onto a balcony in Memphis, Tennessee where a gunman shot him a single time, ending his life half a century ago.
Here is that song:
© 2026 – SoulSequel
9 responses to “50 years ago today – a shot was fired, they took his life but they could not take his pride”
Anonymous letter to MLK-
MLK’s response-
No matter how much the LGBTTQQIAAP movement wants to say MLK supported the LGBTTQQIAAP movement, or that the LGBTTQQIAAP movement is in any way like the civil rights movements of MLK’s time, MLK, in his own words, calls LGBTTQQIAAP a problem.
You’re right, they could not take his pride, cause he had none.
@Weenis
Considering the times, 1958, King wasn’t being as anti-gay as the times. He’s trying to help a kid who is confused at a confused time.
MLK worked with the openly gay Bayard Rustin for the majority of his time in the civil rights movement, with Rustin being credited as coming up with the non-violent strategy.
@luftballooneyegouge You are a good ally. Thank you.
@Gina
May the Force Be With You
@luftballooneyegouge Such a great composer.
I know, wrong movie but a fine gesture.
@Gina
@Weenis The first thing I did when I read your response was laugh out loud hard. You don’t need to gaysplain this to me. Thank you for the opportunity to talk more about the King Family. How sad that you underestimate the power and love of Dr. King and his Family.
Most people were anti gay back then. I believe he would have evolved along, no; ahead of everybody else.
His wife, the wonderful Coretta Scott King said this:
“I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of lesbian and gay people and I should stick to the issue of racial justice. But I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream to make room at the table of brother- and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people.
Reuters (31 March 1998)
and she said this:
“Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood. This sets the stage for further repression and violence that spread all too easily to victimize the next minority group.”- Coretta Scott King
His son, Martin Luther King III said this:
“My father also supported human rights, freedom and self-determination for all people, including Latino agricultural workers, Native Americans, and the millions of impoverished white men and women who were treated as second-class citizens. Although he was assassinated before the women’s rights, gay rights and environmental movements reached the national stage, there is no question in my mind that my father would have viewed these struggles as battles for justice and equality worthy of his support.”- Martin Luther King III, at the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr National Memorial in Washington, D.C. this year.
@Weenis Oh, one more thing…
https://theconversation.com/martin-luther-king-jr-had-a-much-more-radical-message-than-a-dream-of-racial-brotherhood-92795