UPDATED: 28 Contemporary Speeches about Human Rights and History

Below find 28 important speeches and talks delivered during the last 50 years that focus on human rights. These speeches address issues of race, representation, and justice. I have included links to the transcript of each speech and when available video or audio of the speeches.

President Barack Obama, Farewell Address. (January 10, 2017)
Transcript



Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie addressed the class of 2015 at Wellesley’s 137th Commencement (May 29, 2015)
Transcript


Remarks by the First Lady at Topeka School District Senior Recognition Day (2014)
Transcript


Malala Yousafzai, Address to UN (July 12, 2013)
Transcript


Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, We should all be feminists (April 12, 2013)
Transcript


Leymah Gbowee, Unlock the intelligence, passion, greatness of girls (March 2012)
Transcript

Julia Gillard, ‘The Misogyny Speech’ (2012)
Transcript


Representative Maureen Walsh Remarks on ESSB 6239 (2012)
Transcript


Aaron Huey: America's native prisoners of war (2010)
Transcript

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, The danger of a single story, (July, 2009)
Transcript


Barack Obama's Speech on Race  - A More Perfect Union (March 18, 2008)
Transcript: Barack Obama's Speech on Race 

Al Gore, The Nobel Peace Prize Speech(December 10, 2007)
Transcript


Elie Wiesel, The Perils of Indifference, (April 12, 1999, Washington, D.C)
Transcript


Nora Ephron, ‘Commencement Address To Wellesley Class Of 1996’ (1996)
Transcript


Hillary Clinton, ‘Women’s Rights Are Human Rights’ (1995)
Transcript



Maya Angelou, ‘On the Pulse of Morning’ (1993)


Mario Cuomo, 1984 Democratic National Convention Keynote Address, (July 16, 1984)
Transcript


Ursula K. Le Guin A Left-Handed Commencement Address (May 22, 1983)
Transcript

Audre Lorde, "There is no Hierarchy of Oppressions" (1983)
Transcript


Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, “I Am For the Equal Rights Amendment.” (August 10, 1970)
Transcript

Robert F. Kennedy, Remarks on the Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr - Eulogy (April 3 1968, Indianapolis, IN)
Transcript


Cesar E. Chavez, The Mexican-American and the Church (March 10, 1968)
Transcript

Martin Luther King, Jr. A Time to Break Silence (April 3, 1967)
Transcript and Audio


Lyndon B. Johnson,  Speech Before Congress on Voting Rights (March 15, 1965)
Transcript


Nelson Mandela Nelson Mandela: ‘I am prepared to die’  (April 20, 1964)
Transcript


Malcolm X, “The Ballot or the Bullet” (April 3, 1964)
Transcript


Martin Luther King, Jr. I Have A Dream (August 28, 1963)
Transcript and Audio


John F. Kennedy's Civil Right Address (June 11, 1963)
Transcript and Video