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

NPR | By Byrd Pinkerton,
Lindsay Johnson
Published January 18, 2016 at 9:53 AM MST
Fifth-grade students recite Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
1 of 5  — Fifth-grade students recite Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Fifth-grade students recite Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Waiting to speak, they look out over a crowd of classmates, parents, tourists — and cameras.
2 of 5  — Waiting to speak, they look out over a crowd of classmates, parents, tourists — and cameras.
Waiting to speak, they look out over a crowd of classmates, parents, tourists — and cameras.
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.
3 of 5  — 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.
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 speaking (or, more often, shouting) their lines, the students run back to congratulatory teachers.
4 of 5  — After speaking (or, more often, shouting) their lines, the students run back to congratulatory teachers.
After speaking (or, more often, shouting) their lines, the students run back to congratulatory teachers.
After the speech, the whole class sings three civil-rights-inspired songs together, including "We Shall Overcome."
5 of 5  — 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."

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 14th year of the celebration.

Listen to a clip here:

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Byrd Pinkerton
Lindsay Johnson
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