One of the greatest speakers of our time; he could absolutely move a crowd, and it's a crying shame he didn't live long enough to touch more people with his words of passion and peace and equality.  And just for the record, I'm white.

MLK was one of the greatest orators of all time.  His ability to take his brilliant writings and to verbally present them is the reason that his memory is treasured.

A brilliantly gifted orator, in cadence, timing, modulation and style.

A great inspiration!! Words fail when attempting to describe this man's (for lack of a better word) awe-inspiring spirit and gift of pristine oration.

Though his specific oratorical style does not appeal to me personally, the message is timeless. MLK certainly had the ability to engage an audience and plant a message deep in their hearts and minds. His speeches seem more meaningful and far reaching each time you hear them; they still make you think. He spoke with his whole heart, soul and body - strong, confident eyes glistening with sincerity. In retrospect, you can also hear a sadness in his voice and I truley believe he had a premonition of his coming tragic death.

MLK was probably the best orator in my lifetime,and possibly in the history of the U.S. His passion ignited each well chosen word,and his sincerity was impeccable.

A great man with a great gift of speech. It was clear that he made sure that he spoke and acted like the great man that he thought all black men could be. Idiots like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are an insult to his legacy.

An incredible voice and delivery. . .according to legend, King's father was his equal or better when it came to church sermons.

A great speaker, who spoke as if there was no tomorrow. Sadly for him there was no tomorrow. A passionate speaker who literally gave his life to deliver his message of equality.

One of the most eloquent and effective orators of the 20th century, Martin Luther King Jr. inspired an entire generation to devote themselves entirely to the cause of equal rights and liberties for all Americans regardless of skin color. King really capitalized on the power of repetition in many of his speeches, including his most famous I Have a Dream speech. Especially toward the end of the speech, King began every sentence with the phrase I have a dream in order to convey his deep and unwavering belief in equal rights for his fellow man. The sheer sensation of this speech and those that it inspired are proof that every word that King said was sincere and genuine.

Martin Luther King was the orator of his generation. His words more than any other gave the Civil Rights Movement forward momentum. His I Have A Dream Speech was perfectly delievered to maximize impact. The delivery of course was only part of it; the words themselves had power. He reduced the question of race to a singular simple question: why should we discriminate when it is just skin color? Your individuality isn't determined by the pigment of your skin. Read King's Letter From Birmingham for some very insightful views on race relations in America; in many ways he touches on a lot of the key issues revolving around the American quest for equality.

Bothers me a bit when people feel the need to demean MLKJ's legacy. The one star rating someone gave to his skills as a speaker is rather silly. Regardless of personal politics, it's obvious that MLKJ was an incredibly stirring and gifted speaker. Speeches have seldom been so influential or quoted as much.

the i have a dream speech is probably the most effective, moving speech of the 20th century.

Actually Joseph Stalin wasn't a good orator. He needed a buzzer to tell people when to stop and start cheering after his speeches. Another thing we are rating him as an orator. I regularly quote this guy because of his firm and proud message Free at last! Free at last! Thank God almighty, we are free at last!

He was an excellent orator. When he said his speeches, Everyone listened! He was a very intelligent and articulate man.

I agree with his messages of peace and equality, and he wasn't that bad of an orator; but I can't give anyone more than 1 star who used charitable funds for communist interests and prostitution. He also plagiarized his way through college, wasn't really a Dr. or a Reverend, and his original name wasn't even really Martin Luther. The man is a living lie, and it's a shame that this is the kind of man blacks had to look up to during the Civil Rights movement. But as I said before, I agree with his positive messages, just not his lifestyle or personal interests. And keep in mind that Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin were also good orators.

In a league by himself. Occasionally, NPR will replay MLK speeches - they go for hours and hours and are absolutely riveting. The man had such cadence and control over his voice, his intonation - at times it was like he was singing. Absolutely hypnotic, and like nothing I've ever heard before. I would have loved to hear him speak on the DC mall with 500,000 others... unbelievable. *** NOTE: Not that bad of an orator??? Pisses me of when people are so trapped in their own personal ideology (in this case, redneck) that they become unable to use their brain.

One of the greatest orators. When Dr. King spoke you listened. His speeches always move and intrigue me.