MLK's "Street Sweeper" Speech Encouraging People To Work Hard
 

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One recurring theme in many of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s speeches that always inspires involves the job of street sweeper as a parable for self-fulfillment. I’ve always admired Dr. King’s ability to affect not just churchgoers or civil rights activists but humans of all kinds, secular and otherwise, and the “street sweeper” element and its metaphorical allusions to the arts is my favorite example of this.


"Even if it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, go on out and sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures; sweep streets like Handel and Beethoven composed music; sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry…"


This sentiment is reminiscent of the anonymously-penned poems, “Be the Best of Whatever You Are,” (often attributed to Douglas Malloch) which Dr. King cites in the sermon. In my searches tonight reflecting on Dr. King, I really appreciated how he introduced the street sweeper at the 50th anniversary of Alpha Phi Alpha in Buffalo, 1957 – “The Birth of a New Age.” A great blueprint for any commencement speech.

“We need more people who are competent in all areas and always remember that the important thing is to do a good job. No matter what it is. Whatever you are doing consider it as something having cosmic significance, as it is a part of the uplifting of humanity. No matter what it is, no matter how small you think it is, do it right. As someone said, do it so well that the living, dead, or the unborn could do it no better.

Link Back and Audio Here

Where are the Black Leaders of today that are true stewards of MLK? Don't bother looking as none have come forth to date, sadly.

Re: MLK's "Street Sweeper" Speech Encouraging People To Work Hard
 

I'll expand that question. Its not only black leaders missing but leaders from every aspect of society. There are imo a lack of good decent men and women out there who can inspire others. Politicians for example are today mostly something to be embarassed over.

Re: MLK's "Street Sweeper" Speech Encouraging People To Work Hard
 

And why our morons in society keep voting to give them more power disturbs me much more than politicians being power hungry elitists.

The left looks like they worship their guys.

Re: MLK's "Street Sweeper" Speech Encouraging People To Work Hard
 

I'd say its no a left or right thing, its just as bad all over the scale. I have been thinking about getting into politics here in Sweden because I have a set of beliefs and I wanna do something to change society to the better for my fellow citizen but i don't know if I could deal with all the bulls*** that comes with it.

Re: MLK's "Street Sweeper" Speech Encouraging People To Work Hard
 

I think it absolutely is a left right thing.

The left believes in Big Government with a lot of power and control.

The right believes in Smaller Government with less power and control.

Re: MLK's "Street Sweeper" Speech Encouraging People To Work Hard
 

Oh it is ABSOLUTELY a left/right thing. You didn't see Conservatives promoting images of Bush or Regan as Jesus Christ. Even on the extreme you didn't see this.

Liberals completely worship Obama as a deity. It's freaking scary as hell is what it is.

Re: MLK's "Street Sweeper" Speech Encouraging People To Work Hard
 

This is because what it takes to lead the people and what it takes to get into a position to lead the people are not the same word.


Integrity

Re: MLK's "Street Sweeper" Speech Encouraging People To Work Hard
 

Ive long said about the President of the United States.... The man we need is intelligent enough to know he doesn't want that position.

It seems you agree in regards to your own politics.


In regards to it being a "left or right" thing, it truly is not. However it is being played and portrayed that way. When you can not garner votes based on your own virtues and merit you garner votes by pointing out that the other person is worse than you are. Hence... class, race, political party, warfare.

Re: MLK's "Street Sweeper" Speech Encouraging People To Work Hard
 

And as long as it works (and since he got RE-elected it apparently did) you keep on doing it.

Its why I've always thought the Republican party should stop playing nice and fight fire with fire.

But Americans are too stupid to see past their own Government goodies and will always fall for the "compassion" lies.

Because people are too ignorant to see through their class warfare and race baiting, Democrats would be idiots to cease using these tactics.

We are doomed as a Nation. Not because of these sleazy politicians, but because people aren't educated enough to see them for what they truly are.