"I Have a Dream: Writings and Speeches That Changed the World" is a collection of speeches by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with information relative to each speech provided by James M. Washington. The speeches were made in regard to the United States' struggle for equal rites of all people. It also gives a narrative of the time and the circumstances that started Dr. King's involvement.

The speeches in the book are given in chronological order to when they were publicly released. In 1956, Dr. King had an essay published in a religious journal that was a summary of his book "Stride Toward Freedom". This essay was entitled "Our Struggle". In this essay Dr. King explains the reasons for the black population's reevaluation of himself and his status and what the black community will need to do to fight for equal rights. He also discusses the miscalculations of the white leaders that failed to discourage the Negroes from fighting back for their rights. The next speech depicted in the book was given in 1957 and was named "Facing the Challenge of a New Age". Dr. King explains the pains that the country is going through and explains that these pains are normal for growth and for the birth of a new era. He also discusses the fact that God loves all people and that in order to bring about a new piece of history the people must be willing to love each other as God loves all of his children.

Dr. King goes on in his speeches to talk about nonviolence as he learned it from studying Gandhi. Dr. King is constant in his speeches that the only way to fully reconcile the differences in the United States is to make nonviolent stands. When the Vietnam War starts, Dr. King speaks out against the war because it does nothing but create hate. Dr. King also points out that the United States is sending black and white men to foreign countries to kill and die next to each other when they are not allowed to sit next to each other in schools and restaurants.

Dr. King speaks out about his faith and his belief that each man needs God in his heart. He tells the people that the only way they will be able to have a new country is if America itself is reborn. He calls on the Negro population to not hate the white man for the things that are being done because there are many white people that support them and walk with them. He explains that if they let themselves hate that it will only create more hate and that it has to be stopped. Dr. King gives his final address on April 3, 1968 on the eve of his assassination. His next to last sentence is that he is not fearing of any man.