Vocab I
"[T]hey have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone."
Define "inextricable" (adjective) or "inextricably" (adverb).
inextricable
impossible to separate; closely joined or related
"The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges."
Define "revolt."
revolt
violent action against a ruler or government
"We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence."
Define "degenerate."
degenerate
to change to a worse state or condition; to become worse, weaker, less useful, etc.
Dr. King's father was also a famous minister.
Define "minister" (the noun, not the verb)
minister
a person authorized to perform or assist with religious ceremony and worship; pastor or priest
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
Define "dream." (HINT: Give the figurative definition.)
dream
something that you have wanted very much to do, be, or have for a long time
"Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred."
Define "thirst." (HNT: Think of the figurative meaning of "thirst.")
thirst
a strong desire for something
"This note was a promise that all men...would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
Define "unalienable."
unalienable
impossible to take away or give up
Unfortunately, many decades after Dr. King's death, some colleges and universities are encouraging segregation, such as having separate graduation ceremonies for different racial groups.
Define "segregation." (noun)
segregation
the condition of being separated, especially as a policy imposing social separation according to racial or ethnic groups
"We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity."
Define "dignity."
dignity
the quality of being worthy of honor or respect
"I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice."
Define "oasis."
oasis
something that provides refuge, relief, or pleasant contrast
Tragically, Dr. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee.
Define "assassinate." (verb)
assassinate
to murder
"Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice."
Define "desolate." (Bonus points: Why is King using a "valley" in that sentence? Why is a valley a good symbol to express what he is saying?)
desolate
1) lacking any signs of life; 2) cheerless, very sad
Bonus points answer: A "valley" is a "an elongate depression of the earth's surface usually between ranges of hills or mountains." So, it also has the figurative meaning of "a low point or condition."
"You have been the veterans of creative suffering."
Define "veteran" (noun and adjective forms).
veteran
someone who has a lot of experience in a particular activity, job, etc.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy of peaceful protest in the cause of justice continues to inspire people all over the world.
Define "legacy." (noun)
legacy
something that is inherited from someone who has died;often this refers to something like property or money, but it can also mean an inheritance of values, ideals, etc.
"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed."
Define "creed."
creed
1) a set of guiding rules or beliefs; 2) religion
"We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities."
Define "fatigue."
fatigue
a state of being very tired
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is considered one of the most dynamic public speakers of the 20th century.
Define "dynamic." (adjective)
dynamic
(when describing a person): positive in attitude and full of energy and new ideas