The term "motivational" is overused these days but given the state of race relations in the USA this clip is truly remarkable. Even more so due to the fact he winged it with no notes
In 1968 racial tension amongst blacks and whites in the USA was very high. On his way to speak to a black crowd in Indianapolis Bobby Kennedy, the brother of assassinated president John Kennedy was told Martin Luther King, Jr. had been shot in Memphis. After arriving in Indianapolis he learned King had died. Upon hearing the news that Martin Luther King died many cities across the USA had riots and the police chief of Indianapolis warned Kennedy that they didn't have the manpower to stop a riot and advised him it would be too dangerous to deliver the speech to the black crowd who were not yet aware that Martin Luther King was dead. The chief did not want to put his men at risk and pulled Kennedys police escort and again advised Kennedy not to go through with his speech. Nevertheless Kennedy decided to go ahead and deliver the news. At first the crowd was angry but after about 3 mins they were cheering Kennedy.
Unfortunately any faith in mankind this restored is squandered when we remember 2 months after delivering this speech Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed.
