Martin Luther King Jr.'s first 'I Have a Dream' speech was delivered in N.C.

Jan 20, 2025
1 min read

By Sydney McCoy

“I Have a Dream,” echoing with King’s powerful call for equality, remains one of history’s most acclaimed speeches, its message still resonating globally.

While frequently studied in English classes and seen as a cornerstone of the civil rights movement, King’s speech debuted in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

W. Jason Miller, a distinguished professor in the English Department of N.C. State, shares something in common with King — a love of Langston Hughes.