The influential leader who announced the "I Have a Dream" speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This iconic speech, delivered during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963, encapsulated King’s vision for racial equality and his hope for a future where individuals would be judged by their character rather than the color of their skin. The speech became a key moment in the American civil rights movement, inspiring generations in the struggle for equality and justice.