Jan. 14 - On Jan. 17, the United States Embassy in Tokyo will be closed to celebrate Martin Luther King's birthday, a national holiday.

Martin Luther King's speech on the steps of Washington's Lincoln Memorial on Aug. 28, 1963 was a seminal moment in the American Civil Rights Movement. That day 200,000 supporters of civil rights gathered for a "March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom." This large peaceful demonstration pressured the Kennedy Administration to accelerate plans for legislation in Congress to promote civil rights for all American citizens regardless of race.

Toward the end of his speech, an African American gospel singer named Mahilia Jackson shouted out "Tell them about the dream, Martin!" She was referring to a stirring speech Dr. King had delivered earlier that year in Detroit. At that point, Dr. King departed from his prepared text to articulate his dream of a unified and racially integrated America. During his 17-minute speech, Dr. King used the phrase "I have a dream" eight times to share with his audience his sense of hope about the future.

Listening to this "I Have a Dream" speech again, I think that Dr. King's words that day continue to inspire us with a sense of hope and optimism that our efforts can build an even brighter future.

Until next time,

Jim