Clyburn Likens Obama’s Inaugural to MLK Speeches

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) reminisced about his experience watching President Obama get sworn in at Wednesday’s Library of Congress’ kick-off event for African American History Month.

For his keynote speech, Clyburn, a former teacher, said he would be “doing a little teaching — that is my first love.”

He recounted his experience watching Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech with three generations of his family shortly before Obama was sworn in.

He said just like in King’s speech, Obama provided a stark assessment of the state of the nation.

“Usually when I speak for Black History Month or Martin Luther King’s birthday, I ask people to read or reread King’s Letters from Birmingham Jail,” Clyburn said.

Now, he said he will start asking people to read King’s most famous speech and Obama’s first speech as President side by side.

“And you will get a full measure of what has been promised,” he said.

–Kristofer Kitto