Question

Why is king hopeful about the prospects for equal rights for black Americans?

Answer 1

The main reason why people like King are hopeful about the prospects for equal rights for black Americans is because if you "zoom out" enough from history there has been an upward trend of social progression. 

Answer 2

Dr Martin Luther King was hopeful about the prospects for equal rights for blacks American since he saw how far America had come in terms of race relations since the days of slavery, and was confident that progress would continue. 

Martin Luther King was an American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement from 1954 until his assassination in 1968.  On October 14, 1964, King won the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolent resistance.