Profe Romay Translates MLK’s “I Have a Dream”

Newark Academy Profe Alexis Romay translated Dr. Martin Luther KingJr.’s legendary “I Have a Dream” speech into Spanish. Alexis’s translation, “Yo tengo un sueño,” was published by HarperCollins in August 2022.

“For the first few days (or was it weeks?), I still couldn’t believe that I was going to be the vehicle through which Dr. King’s words would reach a Spanish-speaking audience,” Alexis says. “Yet, rather than intimidate me, that responsibility inspired me and kept me focused and grounded.”

This year, Alexis discussed his translation with a number of classes — including Theory of Knowledge, IB English, World Literature, the eighth-grade World Cultures course, and his own IB Spanish classes.

“It has been my greatest honor to bring this timely and timeless speech into my native language,” Alexis says.