This week has brought pain and hurt to an already uncertain time. We know Minnesota is carrying a lot. Through the complexity of all we're feeling right now, music is one thing that can help get us through. Minnesota, we hear you. And we are here for you.

George Floyd died Monday night in Minneapolis after a police officer knelt on his neck. At the end of this difficult week, The Current is taking a moment of silence on Friday at 5 p.m. CDT in recognition of this loss of life and of the collective pain in the community and nation.

Following the moment of silence, we are airing a portion of Dr. Martin Luther King's 1967 speech, "The Other America," given by Dr. King that year at Stanford University as well as at the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Martin Luther King "The Other America" speech excerpt

"…that America has been backlashing on the whole question of basic constitutional and God-given rights for Negroes and other disadvantaged groups for more than 300 years.

"So these conditions, existence of widespread poverty, slums, and of tragic conditions in schools and other areas of life, all of these things have brought about a great deal of despair, and a great deal of desperation. A great deal of disappointment and even bitterness in the Negro communities. And today, all of our cities confront huge problems. All of our cities are potentially powder kegs as a result of the continued existence of these conditions. Many in moments of anger, many in moments of deep bitterness, engage in riots.

"Let me say as I've always said, and I will always continue to say, that riots are socially destructive and self-defeating. I'm still convinced that nonviolence is the most potent weapon available to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom and justice. I feel that violence will only create more social problems than they will solve. That in a real sense it is impracticable for the Negro to even think of mounting a violent revolution in the United States. So I will continue to condemn riots, and continue to say to my brothers and sisters that this is not the way. And continue to affirm that there is another way.

"But at the same time, it is as necessary for me to be as vigorous in condemning the conditions which cause persons to feel that they must engage in riotous activities as it is for me to condemn riots. I think America must see that riots do not develop out of thin air. Certain conditions continue to exist in our society which must be condemned as vigorously as we condemn riots. But in the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear that the plight of the Negro poor has worsened over the last few years. It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice, equality and humanity. And so in a real sense, our nation's summers of riots are caused by our nation's winters of delay. And as long as America postpones justice, we stand in the position of having these recurrences of violence and riots over and over again. Social justice and progress are the absolute guarantors of riot prevention."

Civil Rights Playlist

In 2015, on the 50th Anniversary of the historic Selma-to-Montgomery march, The Current's Production Manager Derrick Stevens assembled this playlist of some of his favorite Civil Rights songs. This music remains as relevant as ever:

For the latest news, our colleagues at MPR News are here for you with ongoing coverage.

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