What does Martin Luther King Jr. make allusions to in his "I Have a Dream” speech? Check all that apply.
Answers
The Emancipation Proclamation - He says "five score years ago...we signed today the Emancipation Proclamation". He makes this allusion to show that even though we ended slavery, the oppression that African Americans suffer is still very much alive today.
Declaration of Independence - "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." He uses this quote to show that our very nation was built on the desire for equality.
Constitution - MLK Jr. refers to the Constitution as well as the Declaration of Independence as a "promissory note" that promises equality for all. In this metaphor, he is asking America to pay up and settle the debt of equality that is owed.
Bible - The line "we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters" alludes to the Bible. Actually, most of the references to rivers, water, and drinking are biblical allusions. Not only is MLK Jr. alluding to the founding documents of the United States of America to demonstrate what is right, but he also uses the Bible to show the injustices that have been done.
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