Walking past a plaque which is engraved with one of many important quotes by Martin Luther King Jr.
I frequently walk along the Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade in downtown San Diego. Whenever I do, I like to randomly read some of the historic MLK quotes that are engraved in plaques along the long pathway. I’ve never counted the number of quotes. There are easily dozens. Every quote on every plaque is important and powerful, and reflects the intelligence, energy, optimism and wisdom of America’s great civil rights leader.
Here are photos taken at different times of a few of Dr. King’s quotes…
Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor. It must be demanded by the oppressed.The deep rumbling of discontent that we hear today is the thunder of disinherited masses, rising from dungeons of oppression to the bright hills of freedom in one majestic chorus.Along the way of life, someone must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate. This can only be done by projecting the ethic of love to the center of our lives.We have flown the air like birds and swum the sea like fishes, but have yet to learn the simple act of walking the Earth like brothers.Two people walk side-by-side down the Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade in downtown San Diego.I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.The democratic ideal of freedom and equality will be fulfilled for all–or all human beings will share in the resulting social and spiritual doom…The greatest victory of the civil rights period was something internal…We armed ourselves with dignity and self-respect…We straightened our backs up…The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.Any law that uplifts human personality is just, any law that degrades human personality is unjust.Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.Breaking the Chains sculpture, by Melvin Edwards, reminds people on MLK Promenade of the positive legacy of a great civil rights leader.
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Downtown San Diego has been my home for many years. My online activities reflect my love for writing, blogging, walking and photography.
View all posts by Richard Schulte
3 thoughts on “Quotes on the Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade.”
I recently walked the SAN Diego MLK Promenade and was stunned by the relevance of the quotes by MLK to the political situation we find ourselves in today. Is there anyplace these quotes are written in their entirety because I want to write a piece about this experience. There were many my daughter and I read that were just so relevant. Thank you.
I don’t know of any place where you can find all the quotes. I think I googled it a while back without any success, but perhaps give that a try! Good luck!
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I recently walked the SAN Diego MLK Promenade and was stunned by the relevance of the quotes by MLK to the political situation we find ourselves in today. Is there anyplace these quotes are written in their entirety because I want to write a piece about this experience. There were many my daughter and I read that were just so relevant. Thank you.
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I don’t know of any place where you can find all the quotes. I think I googled it a while back without any success, but perhaps give that a try! Good luck!
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