By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

Dr. Richard Haven, who served as a professor of communication at UW-Whitewater from 1972-2011, was one of 137 leading scholars of American public address who in 1999 were asked to recommend 20th century speeches on the basis of social and political impact, and rhetorical artistry. In a brief interview this week with WMTV, Haven shared some of his thoughts on two famous speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Those speeches included the well remembered phrases, “I have a dream” and “I’ve been to the mountaintop.” The former speech was ranked #1 on the “Top 100 Speeches” list that was compiled from the scholars’ recommendations.

The interview may be viewed here. By the way, in the interview Professor Emeritus Haven suggests that everyone should read King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” written in 1963 in response to a public statement of concern and caution issued by eight white religious leaders of the South. The letter is reproduced here.