MLK's Last Sermon | 4 Days Before Assassination

There must be something positive and massive in order to get rid of all the effects of racism and the tragedies of racial injustice. But there is another thing closely related to racism that I would like to mention as another challenge. We are challenged to rid our nation and the world of poverty. Like a monstrous octopus, poverty spreads its nagging prehensile tentacles into hamlets and villages all over our world.

How can one avoid being depressed when he sees with his own eyes evidences of millions of people going to bed hungry at night? How can one avoid being depressed when he sees with his own eyes God's children sleeping on the sidewalks at night? …Maybe we spend far too much of our national budget establishing military bases around the world rather than bases of genuine concern and understanding.

And I must confess that in some situations I have literally found myself crying…
I was in Newark and Harlem just this week…This welfare mother…She pointed out the walls with all the ceiling falling through. She showed me the holes where the rats came in. She said night after night we have to stay awake to keep the rats and roaches from getting to the children…

This can happen to America…this is America's opportunity to help bridge the gulf between the haves and the have-nots. The question is whether America will do it. There is nothing new about poverty. What is new is that we now have the techniques and the resources to get rid of poverty. The real question is whether we have the will.

Thanks for watching

Matt Orfalea

[Orf]

I'm flabbergasted anybody could dislike this. But hey, it's a crazy world.

[OldTeaMate]

"There's nothing new about poverty. What is new, is, that we now have the techniques and the resources to get rid of poverty."

[aTron]

Amazing. So moving. We need this message now more than ever in America.

[pkingo]

We can choose to passionately unite behind helping the poorest among us. To mobilize, speak up, work tirelessly, to fight the tough battles, to solve the many problems, that will elevate us all above poverty. That seems to me be the one war worth fighting.

[oscar_nica]

Not a U.S. Citizen, just here to say that your videos are so touching, anybody from anywhere in the world can feel related. I am no authority regarding film making, but even a simple man like me can see how talented and sensitive you are. Keep on making such amazing content. Cheers..

[deanfukawa]

Aloha Matt, continue spreading Truth; it is the only thing that can overcome ignorance, brother.

[Nicole-wwlg]

This video made me stop on the street and sit down on a window ledge. I live in Seattle where poverty and homelessness stands in stark contrast to being the home of the business of the richest man in the world. #enoughisenough #taxtherich

[danarchist]

Powerful Matt, incredibly Powerful. A clarion call to action.

[Pxi_]

Heartbreaking and needs to be seen by everyone..

[travisross]

America must finnally get its priorities STRAIGHT and make a renewed commitment to Social Justice, Economic Justice and Healthcare as a HUMAN RIGHT. BERNIE and MARTIN are of one and the same mind when it comes to justice and equality - they are the greatest heroes of our time. Let us have Medicare for all and cut military spending for the benefit of social programs that will uplift the middle class and create a new era of prosperity this country so desperately needs!!!

[bhk]

Wow, had no idea how honestly brutal this speech was. To this day the state government where I live is still removing lead from schools. Luckily my governor is a Democrat but I've read studies on what moderate/high level lead exposure can cause with behavior. I've also read that the removal of lead from all buildings and Roe v. Wade (1973) is what significantly reduced crime from 2000-2014, even throughout the economic crash. Just goes to show how important systematic and environmental changes and maintenance are to our relatively peaceful society.

[Orf]

Shoutout to the copyright bully who wrongly had my original fair use video of MLK taken down on Youtube. After being deleted for the last 14 days including MLK Day (bastards...) it is now back up. After being threatened with a lawsuit for making a video promoting an end to poverty…I was reeaallly starting to lose my faith in humanity. But justice has been served.

[Spiral.Dynamics]

So beautiful.
Thank you, Matt. Your editing skills are unmatched in my view.
No war except class war
#solidarityforever

[chuckkottke]

Matt, thank you for sharing this video with us. I have taken in homeless people who were really just ordinary citizens that fell into poverty, through circumstances beyond their control (one family barely escaped their burning home and the insurance company tried to stiff them; the other had an abusive family and worked 3 shifts a day, had a seizure from stress, and a breakdown, winding up in a wheelchair. Bless their souls, by no fault of their own were they rendered homeless, we must end homelessness and poverty once and for all!

[EvaAfrica]

Yet another great video. Very moving. Thank you for the good work you do.

[darksageis]

Moving meld of MLK well chosen words with pictorial evidence of today. Thank you Matt!

[aracelydaroch]

Matt, you're the champion. Great add👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[ryanryckaert]

If I could go back in time and save one person from a premature death, it would have to be MLK.

[averagebritishrailwaysappr]

This is the MLK they don’t teach you about in school

[vaughngainey]

Matt Orfalea your fucking brilliant. Great video. Keep up the great work.