school

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history

as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago,a great american , in whose symbolic shadow

we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

This momentous decree came as a great beacon light

of hope to millions of Negro slaves who

had been seared in the flames of withering

injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to

end the long night of their captivity.