Martin Luther King used his powerful oratory skills to inspire people to fight for what they believed in and to stand up for justice. His words still resonate today as we strive to create a more equitable and peaceful society.

Here are three of King’s most powerful speeches.

1. “I Have a Dream" speech, delivered on August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. This speech is widely considered one of the greatest in American history and helped galvanize the Civil Rights Movement.

2. "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech, delivered on April 3, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, the day before he was assassinated. In this speech, King spoke about the struggles of the Civil Rights Movement and the need for unity and nonviolence.

3. "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence" speech, delivered on April 4, 1967, at Riverside Church in New York City. King spoke out against the Vietnam War and linked it to the struggle for civil rights and economic justice in this speech. This speech marked a turning point in King's career as he focused more on poverty and militarism.