Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of the text. Read this sentence from "A Letter from Birmingham Jail"
by Martin Luther King Jr.: We will win our freedom because the sacred heritage of our nation and the eternal will of God are embodied in our echoing demands. Which statement best explains how the word sacred affects the meaning of the speech? A.) It explains King's reasons for addressing his letter to the leaders of several churches in Birmingham rather than the city's political officials.
B.) It expresses King's position that America's original sin of slavery must be absolved before progress can occur.
C.) It conveys King's belief that the goals of the Civil Rights Movement are pure and just in the same way that America's founding ideals are pure and just.
D.) It suggests King's view that the goals of the Civil Rights Movement can only be achieved with the help of religious or spiritual leaders like himself.
The correct answer is C) it conveys King’s beliefs that the goals of the Civil Rights movement are pure and just in the same way that America’s founding ideals are pure and just.
<em>The statement that best explains how the word “sacred” affects the meaning of the speech is: It conveys King’s beliefs that the goals of the Civil Rights movement are pure and just in the same way that America’s founding ideals are pure and just.
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In “A Letter from Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King Jr. uses wisely the word “sacred” because for him it represents something very cherished and valued. It is a strong belief he feels when compare the Civil Rights movement with the “heritage of the U.S. and the will of God”. For him, this is of the utmost importance and the term “sacred” is clear and profound.
