I am in Birmingham because injustice is here
An ugly record of brutality is here
defending a tragic effort to live in monologue rather than dialogue
Victims of a broken promise are here
forever fighting a degenerating sense of “nobodiness”
Fear-drenched communities are here
wary of each other
Dogs are here
sinking their teeth into unarmed, nonviolent Negroes
Tension is here
but tension will help men rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism
to the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood

you call our cries for brotherhood “unwise and untimely”
you have a tragic misconception of time
you wield the word “wait” as your weapon
but the Negroes smothering in an airtight cage of poverty
in the midst of an affluent society
cannot wait much longer
  This “wait” has almost always meant “never”
And you forget
Privileged groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily 
Human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability
but through the tireless efforts of men willing to be co-workers with God
We are more than willing
We refuse to use immoral means to attain moral ends
We only that you cease using moral means to preserve immoral ends

Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever
We shall not remain oppressed forever
The goal of America,
and the goal of our people
is freedom
We will win our freedom
  because of the sacred heritage of our nation
because of the eternal will of God
that is embodied in our echoing demands
You say “wait”
You say “later”
You say “not now”
We say “tomorrow”
Tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine

Yours for the cause of Peace and Brotherhood,
Martin Luther King Jr.