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Fifth Graders Revisit King's 'Dream' Speech At The Lincoln Memorial

By Byrd Pinkerton / NPR
Published January 18, 2016 at 8:53 AM PST
This story was published more than 8 years ago.
After speaking (or, more often, shouting) their lines, the students run back to congratulatory teachers.
LA Johnson NPR
After speaking (or, more often, shouting) their lines, the students run back to congratulatory teachers.

Fifth-grade students recite King's "I Have A Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
LA Johnson NPR
Fifth-grade students recite King's "I Have A Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

They look out over a crowd of class-mates, parents, tourists, and cameras, waiting to speak.
LA Johnson NPR
They look out over a crowd of class-mates, parents, tourists, and cameras, waiting to speak.

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Each child memorized one small phrase from Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speech. They're standing in the order that they will deliver their line.
LA Johnson NPR
Each child memorized one small phrase from Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speech. They're standing in the order that they will deliver their line.

After the speech, the whole class sings three Civil-Rights-inspired songs together, including "We Shall Overcome."
LA Johnson NPR
After the speech, the whole class sings three Civil-Rights-inspired songs together, including "We Shall Overcome."

After the speech, the whole class sings three Civil-Rights-inspired songs together, including "We Shall Overcome."
LA Johnson NPR
After the speech, the whole class sings three Civil-Rights-inspired songs together, including "We Shall Overcome."

Fifth Graders Revisit King's 'Dream' Speech At The Lincoln Memorial

On Friday, the fifth graders from Watkins Elementary School in Washington, D.C., gathered at the Lincoln Memorial to recite Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1963 "I have a Dream" speech. Each student delivered one line at a small lectern, and then the class sang songs from the Civil Rights era. This is the fourteenth year of the celebration.

Listen to a clip here:

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