Billy Mills: A Letter to Our Youth on “I Have a Dream” Speech

Dr. King make his famous “I Have a Dream” speech at Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963.

Martin Luther King Day 2019

Published January 21, 2019

Billy Mills has been an inspiration to many for decades.

To commemorate Martin Luther King Day 2019, Billy Mills (Oglala Lakota), the 1964 Olympic gold medalist in the 10,000-meter, wrote a letter to youth to express his feelings about the power of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech that was delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963.

Below is Billy Mills Letter:

A Letter to Our Youth:

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech, “I Have a Dream” is a powerful, eloquent, sacred vision and prayer for the future of the United States of America.

“I Have a Dream” magnifies the urgency for us to teach the footprints of our past, the Doctrine of Discovery, Manifest Destiny, slavery and Jim Crow. The footprints are etched into every fiber of our social educational and political way of life, influencing our rule of law.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech, “I Have a Dream” is not just a speech, it is way of life we all must strive for if we truly want our democracy to mature to the sacredness that our flag represents.

I take great strength and hope from “I Have a Dream.” I strongly believe in the youth of America and take inspiration from them, knowing our future is in good hands.

― Billy Mills

January 21, 2019