This is a compilation of things that I find inspirational. It tends to lean political, perhaps, because I think political progress towards unity and equality is among the most inspiring things there is.
Videos
MLK’s Mountaintop Speech, Auto-Tuned
This seemed like it has strong potential to be offensive, but the pairing of some of the most powerful parts of Martin Luther King’s last speech with video from the civil rights movement creates a really moving combination.
The speech (not the auto-tuned song version) is often known as I’ve Been to the Mountaintop, and it was King’s last speech. He, almost portentously, said in his speech, “Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter with me now. Because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life… 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 the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. So I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.” The next day, he was assassinated.
Obama’s “Yes We Can” Speech
The song is famous, but I love the original speech, too. It’s from January of 2008, and was delivered at Nashua High after the polls closed in the New Hampshire primary. (I was actually supposed to be there that night, after a day of GOTV, but was tired and went home to rest.) It was actually a concession speech: despite having kept a ten-point lead in the polls in the weeks leading up to the polls
The speech contains some of my favorite quotes, which I include below. It also makes a reference to “a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the promised land.” (See above!)
will.i.am’s It’s a New Day
While it’s overtly political, it so wonderfully captures the excitement and seemingly unlimited potential of seeing the man I campaigned for elected.
Photos
Obama Shakes a Bobby’s Hand
There’s actually a whole bunch of photos like this, of the leader of the free world stopping to shake the hands of people most people would walk right by.
Quotes
“Always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.”
“We are the ones we have been waiting for.”
“It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation: Yes we can.”