It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizensof 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." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drugof gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of Democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God's children. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.
今天很明显，就其有色公民而言，美国并没有兑付这张期票。美国不仅没有承兑这笔神圣的款项，反而付给黑人一张空头支票，一张标明“存款不足”而退回来的支票。但是我们绝不相信正义的银行已经破产。我们绝不相信，在这个充满机会的国家里，它的巨大的金库会资金不足。因此我们才来要求兑现这张支票——一张见票就为我们兑现自由财富和正义保障的支票。我们来到这个神圣的地方，还为了要提醒美国记住现在的极度紧迫性。现在不是侈谈冷静或者服用渐进主义这帖镇静剂的时候。现在是实现民主诺言的时候。现在是从种族隔离这一黑暗、凄凉的山谷中走上种族公平的金光大道的时候。现在是为上帝所有的儿女打开机会之门的时候。现在是把我们的国家从种族不公平的流沙中拔出来，使之立足于兄弟情谊的坚固岩石之上的时候。