Iamhappytojoinwithyoutodayinwhatwillgodowninhistoryasthegreatestdemonstrationforfreedominthehistoryofournation.Fivescoreyearsago,agreatAmerican,inwhosesymbolicshadowwestandtoday,signedtheEmancipationProclamation.100年前,一位伟大的美国人签署了解放黑奴宣言,今天我们就是在他的雕像前集会。ThismomentousdecreecameasagreatbeaconlightofhopetomillionsofNegroslaveswhohadbeensearedintheflamesofwitheringinjustice.这一庄严宣言犹如灯塔的光芒,给千百万在那摧残生命的不义之火中受煎熬的黑奴带来了希望Itcameasajoyousdaybreaktoendthelongnightoftheircaptivity.它之到来犹如欢乐的黎明,结束了束缚黑人的漫漫长夜。Butonehundredyearslater,theNegrostillisnotfree.然而100年后的今天,我们必须正视黑人还没有得到自由这一悲惨的事实。Onehundredyearslater,thelifeoftheNegroisstillsadlycrippledbythemanaclesofsegregationandthechainsofdiscrimination.100年后的今天,在种族隔离的镣铐和种族歧视的枷锁下,黑人的生活备受奴役。Onehundredyearslater,theNegrolivesonalonelyislandofpovertyinthemidstofavastoceanofmaterialprosperity.100年后的今天,黑人仍生活在物质充裕的海洋中一个穷困的孤岛上。Onehundredyearslater,theNegroisstilllanguishedinthecornersofAmericansocietyandfindshimselfanexileinhisownland.100年后的今天,黑人仍然萎缩在美国社会的角落里,并且意识到自己是故土家园中的流亡者。Andsowe'vecomeheretodaytodramatizeashamefulcondition.今天我们在这里集会,就是要把这种骇人听闻的情况公诸于世。Inasensewe'vecometoournation'scapitaltocashacheck.就某种意义而言,今天我们是为了要求兑现诺言而汇集到我们国家的首都来的。WhenthearchitectsofourrepublicwrotethemagnificentwordsoftheConstitutionandtheDeclarationofIndependence,theyweresigningapromissorynotetowhicheveryAmericanwastofallheir.我们共和国的缔造者草拟宪法和独立宣言的气壮山河的词句时,曾向每一个美国人许下了诺言,Thisnotewasapromisethatallmen,yes,blackmenaswellaswhitemen,wouldbeguaranteedtheunalienableRightsofLife,LibertyandthepursuitofHappiness.他们承诺给予所有的人以生存、自由和追求幸福的不可剥夺的权利。ItisobvioustodaythatAmericahasdefaultedonthispromissorynote,insofarashercitizensofcolorareconcerned.就有色公民而论,美国显然没有实践她的诺言。美国没有履行这项神圣的义务Insteadofhonoringthissacredobligation,AmericahasgiventheNegropeopleabadcheck,acheckwhichhascomebackmarkedinsufficientfunds.,只是给黑人开了一张空头支票,支票上盖着“资金不足”的戳子后便退了回来。Butwerefusetobelievethatthebankofjusticeisbankrupt.。Werefusetobelievethatthereareinsufficientfundsinthegreatvaultsofopportunityofthisnation.但是我们不相信正义的银行已经破产,我们不相信,在这个国家巨大的机会之库里已没有足够的储备Andso,we'vecometocashthischeck,acheckthatwillgiveusupondemandtherichesoffreedomandthesecurityofjustice.因此今天我们要求将支票兑现——这张支票将给予我们宝贵的自由和正义。WehavealsocometothishallowedspottoremindAmericaofthefierceurgencyofNow.我们来到这个圣地也是为了提醒美国,现在是非常急迫的时刻。Thisisnotimetoengageintheluxuryofcoolingoffortotakethetranquilizingdrugofgradualism.。现在决非侈谈冷静下来或服用渐进主义的镇静剂的时候。Nowisthetimetomakerealthepromisesofdemocracy.现在是实现民主的诺言时候。Nowisthetimetorisefromthedarkanddesolatevalleyofsegregationtothesunlitpathofracialjustice.现在是从种族隔离的荒凉阴暗的深谷攀登种族平等的光明大道的时候,Nowisthetimetoliftournationfromthequicksandsofracialinjusticetothesolidrockofbrotherhood.现在是向上帝所有的儿女开放机会之门的时候,NowisthetimetomakejusticearealityforallofGod'schildren.现在是把我们的国家从种族不平等的流沙中拯救出来,置于兄弟情谊的磐石上的时候。Itwouldbefatalforthenationtooverlooktheurgencyofthemoment.如果美国忽视时间的迫切性和低估黑人的决心,那么,这对美国来说,将是致命伤。ThisswelteringsummeroftheNegro'slegitimatediscontentwillnotpassuntilthereisaninvigoratingautumnoffreedomandequality.自由和平等的爽朗秋天如不到来,黑人义愤填膺的酷暑就不会过去。Nineteensixty-threeisnotanend,butabeginning.1963年并不意味着斗争的结束,而是开始。AndthosewhohopethattheNegroneededtoblowoffsteamandwillnowbecontentwillhavearudeawakeningifthenationreturnstobusinessasusual.有人希望,黑人只要撒撒气就会满足;如果国家安之若素,毫无反应,这些人必会大失所望的。AndtherewillbeneitherrestnortranquilityinAmericauntiltheNegroisgrantedhiscitizenshiprights.黑人得不到公民的权利,美国就不可能有安宁或平静,Thewhirlwindsofrevoltwillcontinuetoshakethefoundationsofournationuntilthebrightdayofjusticeemerges.正义的光明的一天不到来,叛乱的旋风就将继续动摇这个国家的地基。ButthereissomethingthatImustsaytomypeople,whostandonthewarmthresholdwhichleadsintothepalaceofjustice:但是对于等候在正义之殿门口的心急如焚的人们,有些话我是必须说的。Intheprocessofgainingourrightfulplace,wemustnotbeguiltyofwrongfuldeeds.在争取合法地位的过程中,我们不要采取错误的做法。Letusnotseektosatisfyourthirstforfreedombydrinkingfromthecupofbitternessandhatred.我们不要为了满足对自由的渴望而抱着敌对和仇恨之杯痛饮。Wemustforeverconductourstruggleonthehighplaneofdignityanddiscipline.我们斗争时必须永远举止得体,纪律严明。Wemustnotallowourcreativeprotesttodegenerateintophysicalviolence.我们不能容许我们的具有崭新内容的抗议蜕变为暴力行动。Againandagain,wemustrisetothemajesticheightsofmeetingphysicalforcewithsoulforce.我们要不断地升华到以精神力量对付物质力量的崇高境界中去。ThemarvelousnewmilitancywhichhasengulfedtheNegrocommunitymustnotleadustoadistrustofallwhitepeople,现在黑人社会充满着了不起的新的战斗精神,但是不能因此而不信任所有的白人。formanyofourwhitebrothers,asevidencedbytheirpresenceheretoday,havecometorealizethattheirdestinyistiedupwithourdestiny.因为我们的许多白人兄弟已经认识到,他们的命运与我们的命运是紧密相连的,他们今天参加游行集会就是明证。Andtheyhavecometorealizethattheirfreedomisinextricablyboundtoourfreedom.他们的自由与我们的自由是息息相关的。Wecannotwalkalone.我们不能单独站立。Andaswewalk,wemustmakethepledgethatweshallalwaysmarchahead.当我们行动时,我们必须保证向前进。Wecannotturnback.我们不能倒退。Therearethosewhoareaskingthedevoteesofcivilrights,Whenwillyoubesatisfied?现在有人问热心民权运动的人,“你们什么时候才能满意?”WecanneverbesatisfiedaslongastheNegroisthevictimoftheunspeakablehorrorsofpolicebrutality.只要黑人仍然遭受警察难以形容的野蛮迫害,我们就绝不会满意。Wecanneverbesatisfiedaslongasourbodies,heavywiththefatigueoftravel,cannotgainlodginginthemotelsofthehighwaysandthehotelsofthecities.只要我们在外奔波而疲乏的身躯不能在公路旁的汽车旅馆和城里的旅馆找到住宿之所