The Takeaway: Story of the Day - MLK's Original 'I Have A Dream' Speech

MLK's Original 'I Have A Dream' Speech

06/21/13 • -1 min

Click on the audio player above to hear this interview.

We all know Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech—it’s remembered nearly every January, when we celebrate the federal holiday dedicated to the civil rights activist. The speech, delivered at the 1963 March on Washington, will celebrate its 50th anniversary in August.

It turns out August 1963 wasn't the first time that King delivered that speech. A few months earlier, on June 23, Dr. King led more than 100,000 people in a march through Detroit - known as the Freedom Walk - where he gave his "I Have a Dream" speech for the first time.

Journalist Tony Brown, host of the online show "Tony Brown’s Journal," coordinated Dr. King’s 1963 Freedom Walk in Detroit and witnessed the original "Dream" speech. He discusses the original speech and his realization that the words he heard that day would become part of American history.

Click on the audio player above to hear about King's speech, and listen to the full version here.

Click on the audio player above to hear this interview.

Click on the audio player above to hear about King's speech, and listen to the full version here.

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Actor James Gandolfini Dead at 51

HBO's "The Sopranos" changed television, it changed the entertainment industry and actor James Gandolfini himself changed the character of the Italian-American made guy.

News broke late Wednesday that Gandolfini, who was in Italy for a film festival, died of a heart attack. He was 51.

"We're all in shock and feeling immeasurable sadness at the loss of a beloved member of our family," a statement from HBO says. "[Gandolfini] was a special man, a great talent, but more importantly a gentle and loving person who treated everyone no matter their title or position with equal respect. He touched so many of us over the years with his humor, his warmth and his humility. Our hearts go out to his wife and children during this terrible time. He will be deeply missed by all of us."

Today we take a look back at the impact of Gandolfini's break through role in "The Sopranos," and the cultural significance of the show in America.

We hear from listeners and chat with Chris Carley, co-owner of Holsten's, the Bloomfield, New Jersey restaurant where "Sopranos" creators David Chase filmed the series' iconic final scene.

Of the booth where the Soprano family enjoyed their final dinner onscreen, Carley says, "That booth is closed. When I found out that James had passed away, I put a 'reserved' sign on it and it's been closed since."

Click here to see a photo of the booth, reserved for Gandolfini.