King argues that the crisis of racism is too urgent, and the current system too entrenched: "We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed."
金指出种族主义的危机迫在眉睫，而现行制度根深蒂固：“我们亲历的苦难告诉我们，压迫者永远不会自愿给予被压迫者以自由，自由是需要被压迫者去争取的。