I've Been to the Mountaintop

King advocates for united civil action as a powerful and essential means to address injustice and racial discrimination in America. Given the axiom that power is never given, but always taken, King presents nonviolent civil action as an effective form of resistance that unites people through collective, ethical action.

In his speech, King discusses unity as the linchpin of this power, using the Biblical account of Exodus to make his case. In Egypt, the Pharoah kept the Israelites enslaved by fostering discord and infighting among them. “When the slaves get together” King emphasizes, “that’s the beginning of getting out of slavery. Now let us maintain unity” (Paragraph 16, emphasis added). He points out the enemy's most notable tactic—sowing discord amongst the oppressed to maintain control over them—is an example of a “divide and conquer” technique. The assertion that oppressive leaders maintain control through division emphasizes the strength of a united resistance, as people who are united can act as one against the oppressive system that seeks to manipulate and undermine them. As a result, he challenges the audience to reject division, laying the foundation for his call to action.

King goes on to stress the economic power of the Black community.