100年后，黑人依然在美国社会中间向隅而泣，依然感到自己在国土家园中流离漂泊。所以，我们今天来到这里，要把这骇人听闻的情况公诸于众。

　　In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

　　从某种意义上说，我们今天来到国家的首都是为了兑现一张支票。我们共和国的缔造者在拟写《宪法》和《独立宣言》的辉煌篇章时，就签署了一张每一个美国人都能继承的期票。这张期票向所有人承诺，是的，白人和黑人都包括在内的所有人，都享有不可剥夺的生存权、自由权和追求幸福的权利。

　　It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

　　然而今天，美国显然没有向她的有色公民兑现这张期票。美国非但没有履行这一神圣的诺言，还给黑人一张空头支票——一张盖着“资金不足”的印戳而被退回的支票。