Burns Spanish students prove King's dream resonates in any language

BRANDON — The students recited the most famous speech of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but it didn't sound quite like the words King used to describe a nation where his children would be judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin.

Yo tengo un sueño que mis cuatro hijos pequeños algun dia viviran en una nacion donde no seran juzgados por el color de la piel sino por el contenido de sus caracteres.

Yes, Belinda Kramer had the students in her beginning Spanish class at Burns Middle School translate King's I Have A Dream speech as part of a special lesson connected to Black History Month.

"In my opinion, the I Have a Dream speech is one of the most beautiful speeches ever delivered," said Kramer, who guided the class through the presentation on Feb. 26. "Since I teach Spanish, it seemed fitting to translate some of its most famous excerpts into the language."

Kramer spoke to the class about King's overall legacy, and she also had them read the poem called Tener el Poder (To Have the Power).

Drawing upon the inspiration of the speech and poem, she asked students to create their own speeches.

"It is important to make students think that they too can have a dream like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had in order to make the world a better place," said Kramer, in her 15th year as a teacher and her third at Burns.

"Mrs. Kramer is a wonderful example of what is positive about education," Burns principal Matthew DiPrima said. "Her passion and energy for life is contagious."

Contact Tatiana Ortiz at hillsnews@tampabay.com.