You know, several years ago, I was in
autographing the first book that I had written. And while sitting there autographing books, a demented black woman came up. The only question I heard from her was, "Are you Martin Luther King?" And I was looking down writing, and I said, "Yes." And the next minute I felt something beating on my chest. Before I knew it I had been
by this demented woman. I was rushed to
Hospital. It was a dark Saturday afternoon. And that blade had gone through, and the X-rays revealed that the tip of the blade was on the edge of my aorta, the main artery. And once that's
, you're drowned in your own blood -- that's the end of you.
It came out in the New York Times the next morning, that if I had merely sneezed, I would have died. And I want to say tonight... that I am happy that I didn't sneeze. Because if I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here in 1960, when students all over
started sitting-in at lunch counters. And I knew that as they were sitting in, they were really standing up for the best in the American dream, and taking the whole nation back to those great wells of
which were dug deep by the Founding Fathers in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here in 1961, when we decided to take
and ended segregation in inter-state travel.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here in 1962, when Negroes in
, Georgia, decided to straighten their backs up. And whenever men and women straighten their backs up, they are going somewhere, because a man can't ride your back unless it is bent.
If I had sneezed I wouldn't have been here in 1963, when the black people of
, Alabama, aroused the conscience of this nation, and brought into being the Civil Rights Bill.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have had a chance later that year, in August, to try to tell America about
that I had had.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been down in
, Alabama, to see the great Movement there.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been in
to see a community rally around those brothers and sisters who are suffering.
I'm so happy that I didn't sneeze.
Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to
.
And I don't mind.
Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen
. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to
!
So I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the
of the coming of the Lord.
