Answer: D) This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice.
Step-by-step explanation:
A simile is a figure of speech that offers a comparison between two different elements by noting their similarities. It's not the same as a metaphor, because a simile uses the words “like” or “as”, establishing a direct comparison. A simile is a figure of resemblance or relationship. In this case, King compares the Emancipation Proclamation to a "great beacon light of hope", and the injustice of slavery to searing flames.