Oprah Winfrey delivered the following remarks at the “Let Oprah Winfrey delivered the following remarks at the
arks at the “Let
Freedom Ring” ceremony to commemorate the 50th
anniversary of the March on Washington on Aug. 28, 2013, at
the Lincoln Memorial.
Hello everybody. I am absolutely thrilled to be here. I
remember when I was 9 years old and the march was
occurring and I asked my mama, can I go to the march? It
took me 50 years, but I’m here.
On this date, in this place, at this time, 50 years ago today, Dr.
Martin Luther King shared his dream for America with
America. It Took me 50 years, but I’m here.
On this date, in this place, at this time, 50 years ago today, Dr.
Martin Luther King shared his dream for America with
America. Dr. King was the passionate voice that awakened
the conscience of a nation and inspired people all over the
world. The power of his words resonated because they were
spoken out of an unwavering belief in freedom and justice,
equality and opportunity for all. “Let Freedom Ring” was Dr.
King’s closing call for a better and more just America.
So today, people from all walks of life will gather at 3 p.m. for
bell-ringing events across our great country and around the
world as we reaffirm our commitment to Dr. King’s ideals. Dr.
King believed that our destinies are all intertwined, and he
knew that our hopes and our dreams are really all the same.
He challenged us to see how we all are more alike than we
are different.
So as the bells of freedom ring today, we’re hoping that it’s a
time for all of us to reflect on not only the progress that has
been made — and we’ve made a lot — but on what we have
accomplished and also on the work that still remains before
us. It’s an opportunity today to recall where we once were in
this nation and to think about that young man, who, at 34
years old, stood up here and was able to force an entire
country to wake up, to look at itself and to eventually change.
And as we, the people, continue to honor the dream of a man
and a movement, a man who in his short life saw suffering
and injustice and refused to look the other way, we can be
inspired and we, too, can be courageous by continuing to
walk in the footsteps in the path that he forged. He is the one
who reminded us that we will never walk alone. He was, after
all, a drum major for justice.
So as the bells toll today, let us reflect on the bravery, let us
reflect on the sacrifice of those who stood up for freedom,
who stood up for us, whose shoulders we now stand on. And
as the bells toll today at 3:00, let us ask ourselves: How will
the dream live in me, in you, in all of us? As the bells toll, let
us remind ourselves: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice
everywhere.” As the bells toll, we commit to a life of service
because Dr. King, one of my favorite quotes from him is, “Not
everybody can be famous, but everybody can be great
because greatness is determined by service.”
So we ask ourselves, what are we doing for others to lift
others up? And as the bells toll, we must recommit to let the
love that abides and connects each of us to shine through and
let freedom ring.
Freedom Ring” ceremony to commemorate the 50th
anniversary of the March on Washington on Aug. 28, 2013, at
the Lincoln Memorial.
Hello everybody. I am absolutely thrilled to be here. I
remember when I was 9 years old and the march was
occurring and I asked my mama, can I go to the march? It
took me 50 years, but I’m here.
On this date, in this place, at this time, 50 years ago today, Dr.
Martin Luther King shared his dream for America with
America. It Took me 50 years, but I’m here.
On this date, in this place, at this time, 50 years ago today, Dr.
Martin Luther King shared his dream for America with
America. Dr. King was the passionate voice that awakened
the conscience of a nation and inspired people all over the
world. The power of his words resonated because they were
spoken out of an unwavering belief in freedom and justice,
equality and opportunity for all. “Let Freedom Ring” was Dr.
King’s closing call for a better and more just America.
So today, people from all walks of life will gather at 3 p.m. for
bell-ringing events across our great country and around the
world as we reaffirm our commitment to Dr. King’s ideals. Dr.
King believed that our destinies are all intertwined, and he
knew that our hopes and our dreams are really all the same.
He challenged us to see how we all are more alike than we
are different.
So as the bells of freedom ring today, we’re hoping that it’s a
time for all of us to reflect on not only the progress that has
been made — and we’ve made a lot — but on what we have
accomplished and also on the work that still remains before
us. It’s an opportunity today to recall where we once were in
this nation and to think about that young man, who, at 34
years old, stood up here and was able to force an entire
country to wake up, to look at itself and to eventually change.
And as we, the people, continue to honor the dream of a man
and a movement, a man who in his short life saw suffering
and injustice and refused to look the other way, we can be
inspired and we, too, can be courageous by continuing to
walk in the footsteps in the path that he forged. He is the one
who reminded us that we will never walk alone. He was, after
all, a drum major for justice.
So as the bells toll today, let us reflect on the bravery, let us
reflect on the sacrifice of those who stood up for freedom,
who stood up for us, whose shoulders we now stand on. And
as the bells toll today at 3:00, let us ask ourselves: How will
the dream live in me, in you, in all of us? As the bells toll, let
us remind ourselves: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice
everywhere.” As the bells toll, we commit to a life of service
because Dr. King, one of my favorite quotes from him is, “Not
everybody can be famous, but everybody can be great
because greatness is determined by service.”
So we ask ourselves, what are we doing for others to lift
others up? And as the bells toll, we must recommit to let the
love that abides and connects each of us to shine through and
let freedom ring.