--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When Dr. King was murdered, I had no idea…" description: "\"When Dr. King was murdered, I had no idea who he was. But as soon as I heard his words on television that night when I was 9 years old, I was dumbstruc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/michael-eric-dyson-1424_awestruck_when-dr-king-was-murdered-i-had-no-idea_621283.png" --- # When Dr. King was murdered, I had no idea who he was. But… ![“When Dr. King was murdered, I had no idea who he was. But as soon as I heard his words on television that night when I was 9 years old, I was dumbstruck, awestruck by their power.” quote by Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/michael-eric-dyson-1424_awestruck_when-dr-king-was-murdered-i-had-no-idea_621283.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/michael-eric-dyson-1424_awestruck_when-dr-king-was-murdered-i-had-no-idea_621283.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/michael-eric-dyson-1424_awestruck_when-dr-king-was-murdered-i-had-no-idea_621283.png) > “When Dr. King was murdered, I had no idea who he was. But as soon as I heard his words on television that night when I was 9 years old, I was dumbstruck, awestruck by their power.” [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A child's first encounter with powerful words can spark lifelong admiration and inspiration. **In simple terms:** Powerful words can change a child's view. Key Takeaway Listen to powerful speeches early. Themes inspiration education personal growth Mood awestruck motivated Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - school - family discussions - public speaking - media consumption Key Concepts Rhetoric emotional impact Questions to Reflect On - What speech moved you as a child? - How can you keep that inspiration alive? A Different Perspective Impact may fade without deeper engagement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awestruck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awestruck/) [Dr King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dr-king/) [Drs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drs/) [Dumbstruck Awestruck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumbstruck-awestruck-5026620/) [Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heard/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) [King Murdered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king-murdered-5026621/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [No idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-idea/) [Old Dumbstruck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-dumbstruck-5026622/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [Jesus-murdered. Martin Luther King-murdered. Gandhi-murdered. Malcolm X-murdered. Reagan-wounded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/jesus-murdered-martin-luther-king-murdered-gandhi-murdered-malcolm-x/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [My role on television is one of helping people reexamine the assumptions that they hold. I regard Dr. King. You would never hear me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/my-role-on-television-is-one-of-helping-people-reexamine-the/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [There's never been a film with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the center released in theaters. Ever! One does not exist. You've only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/there-s-never-been-a-film-with-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-at-the-center/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [One of the greatest men to ever walk this land was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His life exemplified unity by bringing people together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-greatest-men-to-ever-walk-this-land-was-dr-martin-luther/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A hashtag is not helping. A hashtag is not a movement. A hashtag does not make you Dr King. A hashtag does not change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/a-hashtag-is-not-helping-a-hashtag-is-not-a-movement-a-hashtag-does/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [The crown jewel of Dr. King's movement was to protect the right to vote for all citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/the-crown-jewel-of-dr-king-s-movement-was-to-protect-the-right-to/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [I love Dr. King, but violence might be necessary; Cause when you live on MLK and it gets very scary, You might have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/killer-mike/i-love-dr-king-but-violence-might-be-necessary-cause-when-you-live-on/) [Killer Mike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/killer-mike/) > [Dr. King used to say, 'I was sitting in the back of the bus, but my mind was always up front.' Don't let anybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/dr-king-used-to-say-i-was-sitting-in-the-back-of-the-bus-but-my-mind/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [My personal assessment is that Dr. King is the greatest American we have ever produced. I can argue for Lincoln, I can argue for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/my-personal-assessment-is-that-dr-king-is-the-greatest-american-we/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [It was only through the years that I realized what an absolutely extraordinarily thoughtful person Dr. King was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-seeger/it-was-only-through-the-years-that-i-realized-what-an-absolutely/) [Pete Seeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-seeger/) > [Just as Dr. King was a disciple of Gandhi and Christ, we must now be Dr. King's disciples. Dr. King challenged us to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/just-as-dr-king-was-a-disciple-of-gandhi-and-christ-we-must-now-be-dr/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [There are many people making a difference. I mean, Dr. King never held an office. Gandhi never held an office. There are people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-kucinich/there-are-many-people-making-a-difference-i-mean-dr-king-never-held/) [Dennis Kucinich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-kucinich/) > [Because Dr. King was human and not divine - although we think he was divine, he was just a man, an extraordinary man, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/because-dr-king-was-human-and-not-divine-although-we-think-he-was/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [And in the racial climate of this country today, it is anybody's guess which of the 'extremes' in approach to the black man's problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/and-in-the-racial-climate-of-this-country-today-it-is-anybody-s-guess/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I used read about Dr. King a lot as a kid. Independently, from being assigned it or being told by my parents or anything,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/i-used-read-about-dr-king-a-lot-as-a-kid-independently-from-being/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) ## More by Michael Eric Dyson > [Jeremiah Wright is one of the greatest prophetic preachers that black America has produced. What I find striking is that many white brothers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/jeremiah-wright-is-one-of-the-greatest-prophetic-preachers-that-black/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [ What are you for? It may be, to a degree, consoling that white brothers and sisters did not vote for \[Donald\] Trump, and do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/what-are-you-for-it-may-be-to-a-degree-consoling-that-white-brothers/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [I went to school four years later than most people because I was a teen father, hustled on the streets, worked, lived on welfare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/i-went-to-school-four-years-later-than-most-people-because-i-was-a/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [It is true that race is a social fiction, a myth perpetuated by a variety of peoples throughout the modern period, especially, to further…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/it-is-true-that-race-is-a-social-fiction-a-myth-perpetuated-by-a/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [ I've written a lot of other books and this book \[Tears we cannot stop\] was different. I couldn't just say what I wanted to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/i-ve-written-a-lot-of-other-books-and-this-book-tears-we-cannot-stop/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [“And there is a paradox that many of you refuse to see: to get to a point where race won’t make a difference, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/and-there-is-a-paradox-that-many-of-you-refuse-to-see-to-get-to-a/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [ Elvis \[Presley\] had a stepstool, if you will, to success because he came from the dominant culture. They identified with him. Michael Jackson had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/elvis-presley-had-a-stepstool-if-you-will-to-success-because-he-came/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [I believe in a God of a second chance and a God of love and mercy, because I need so much more of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/i-believe-in-a-god-of-a-second-chance-and-a-god-of-love-and-mercy/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [Hurricane Katrina overwhelmed levees and exploded the conventional wisdom about a shared American prosperity, exposing a group of people so poor they didn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/hurricane-katrina-overwhelmed-levees-and-exploded-the-conventional/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [I was very struck when Min. Farrakhan said if Jesus and Muhammad were here today, they'd be embracing each other. That's a tremendous message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/i-was-very-struck-when-min-farrakhan-said-if-jesus-and-muhammad-were/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [“O! save us, we pray thee, thou God of Heaven and of earth, from the devouring hands of the white Christians!!! . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/o-save-us-we-pray-thee-thou-god-of-heaven-and-of-earth-from-the/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [We can't exempt ourselves from the same moral calculus that we are willing to apply to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/we-can-t-exempt-ourselves-from-the-same-moral-calculus-that-we-are/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [New Orleans invented the brown paper bag party - usually at a gathering in a home - where anyone darker than the bag attached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/new-orleans-invented-the-brown-paper-bag-party-usually-at-a-gathering/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [“Whiteness is an advantage and privilege because you have made it so, not because the universe demands it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/whiteness-is-an-advantage-and-privilege-because-you-have-made-it-so/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [I'm just challenging white supremacy at its intellectual heart every day. It's a pedagogy that I deploy against some of the most vicious resistance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/i-m-just-challenging-white-supremacy-at-its-intellectual-heart-every/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) [Explore all 242 Michael Eric Dyson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) ## More Awestruck quotes > [... another guitar player who had a tremendous influence on my life was Howard Roberts ... I'd listened to a lot of Tal Farlow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-baxter/another-guitar-player-who-had-a-tremendous-influence-on-my-life-was/) [Jeff Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-baxter/) > [I took a job at the Walt Disney Company and after 18 months decided to go to business school at Harvard. I was awestruck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kilar/i-took-a-job-at-the-walt-disney-company-and-after-18-months-decided/) [Jason Kilar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kilar/) > [Brody cannot believe the size of the creature, and with a classic, practical understatement tells Quint his assessment: You're gonna need a bigger boat.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-scheider/brody-cannot-believe-the-size-of-the-creature-and-with-a-classic/) [Roy Scheider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-scheider/) > [God has sovereignly pulled back the curtain on His glory. He has disclosed Himself on the platform of both creation and redemption that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/god-has-sovereignly-pulled-back-the-curtain-on-his-glory-he-has/) [Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/) > [The most impactful place that Ive been to where I was just completely awestruck, happy, moved is Victoria Falls between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hill-harper/the-most-impactful-place-that-ive-been-to-where-i-was-just-completely/) [Hill Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hill-harper/) > [Today I may way before an awestruck world; I am still master of my fate. I am still captain of my soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/today-i-may-way-before-an-awestruck-world-i-am-still-master-of-my/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [I kept hearing about this incredible guy called Tom Hardy. I started watching his work, and I was awestruck - he was amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hillcoat/i-kept-hearing-about-this-incredible-guy-called-tom-hardy-i-started/) [John Hillcoat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hillcoat/) > [“At my last appointment, about a year ago, my eye doctor asked if I could still see the stars at night. It was weird…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/at-my-last-appointment-about-a-year-ago-my-eye-doctor-asked-if-i/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [Your hair," repeated Dimitri. His eyes were wide, almost awestruck. "Your hair is beautiful." I didn't think so, not in its current state. of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/your-hair-repeated-dimitri-his-eyes-were-wide-almost-awestruck-your/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“I'm awestruck that you had warm cabbages sitting around.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/i-m-awestruck-that-you-had-warm-cabbages-sitting-around/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [The revelation of His glory includes seeing One so high (transcendence) who went so low (condescension) to bring us so near (redemption) because we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-bickle/the-revelation-of-his-glory-includes-seeing-one-so-high-transcendence/) [Mike Bickle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-bickle/) > [“It seems there’s nothing like millions of sparkling stars to make you feel both awestruck and inconsequential”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meghan-march/it-seems-there-s-nothing-like-millions-of-sparkling-stars-to-make-you/) [Meghan March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meghan-march/) > [If something has not been part of your dreams or ambitions, then you are not awestruck by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nithya-menen/if-something-has-not-been-part-of-your-dreams-or-ambitions-then-you/) [Nithya Menen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nithya-menen/) > [To be honest, I still get awestruck when I meet my heroes and the people I admire. I think that's only natural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-keoghan/to-be-honest-i-still-get-awestruck-when-i-meet-my-heroes-and-the/) [Barry Keoghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-keoghan/) > [ In my school, the library was forbidden. I was accused of turning on the radiator so that the \[class\]room was uninhabitable and the ceiling… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-johnstone/in-my-school-the-library-was-forbidden-i-was-accused-of-turning-on/) [Keith Johnstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-johnstone/) [Browse all 24 Awestruck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awestruck/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When Dr. King was murdered, I had no idea who he was. 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