‘In spite of my shattered dreams, I came to Birmingham with the hope that the white religious leadership of this community would see the justice of our cause and, with deep moral concern, would serve as the channel through which our just grievances could reach the power structure … But again I have been disappointed.’

I had a dream [Martin Luther King]

[On 16 April 1963, Martin Luther King wrote his famous Letter from Birmingham Jail. It’s a plea for peace and brotherhood, intended to open the eyes of the country’s leaders. The letter would be followed by his legendary ‘I have a dream’ speech a few months later. King used ‘dream’ because it was a future reality he could see vividly, not as a closed-eye fantasy.]