Expanding upon Beck's religious theme, King called for the nation to turn from its "moral turpitude."

"Forty-seven years ago, Uncle Martin compared our nation’s promise of equal protection to a check marked ‘insufficient funds,’" she said. "Today, in more than one sense, America is nearly bankrupt. Our material gains seem to be going the way of our moral losses.”

She added, “The economy reflects the dearth of our nation’s moral poverty. Yet we are not without hope. Faith, love and hope are not dead in America . . . I too have a dream . . . I have a dream that one day soon, God . . . will transcend skin color and economic status and cause us to turn from moral turpitude. I have a dream that American will repent from the sin of racism and return to honor . . . I have a dream that America will pray and God will forgive us our sins and revive us our land.”