Speeches addressing civil rights issues are among the most famous and inspiring in American history.

From Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech to President Barack Obama’s historic inaugural address as the nation’s first African-American president, speeches with a civil rights theme rightfully take their place alongside the soaring oratory of President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address.

As we celebrated the life of Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 20, 2020, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed some of the most important civil rights speeches in U.S. history. We considered the historical significance of the speech, if it represented a departure or shift in tone or direction for the speaker, its effectiveness in bringing about change, and if the speech stands the test of time. Our sources included collections by the Library of Congress, online libraries of former presidents, the African American Museum, and web sources such as blackpast.org and americanradioworks.publicradio.org. These speeches are listed in chronological order.

Many of these speeches share the theme of economic disparities between black and white Americans — disparities that remain problems today. In 2018, the typical black household earned about $25,000 a year less than the typical white household, and black workers were more than twice as likely to be unemployed as white workers. These differences can be far greater in certain parts of the country. Here is a look at the worst cities for black Americans.

The content of civil rights speeches can be aspirational, instructive, or even incendiary, and they provide a window into the thoughts and hopes of millions of those yearning for their share of the American dream.

Click here to see the most important civil rights speeches