Question

In at least 150 words, explain the metaphor of "cashing a check" and how it makes King's speech more effective.

Answer 1

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. used the metaphor of "cashing a check" in his "I Have a Dream" speech. The use of this metaphor helped to make his speech more effective in its persuasion to change.

Step-by-step explanation:

Both the Declaration of Independence and the American Constitution made great promises. These promises had been signed by the founders of this country. In essence, their signatures made those documents into promissory notes, or "checks," written to all the people of America. No one was left out; none were eliminated based on race, origin, sex, religion, age, or any other distinguishing characteristics. Unfortunately, African Americans were written "bad checks." They did not receive the respect, rights, and privileges that had been promised to them. This metaphor made King's speech more effective because it provided all those who heard or read it with a fresh perspective on an ancient problem. New perspective can often persuade people to reconsider and change their opinions and attitudes.

Answer 2

He uses cashing the check as metaphor because he describes the African Americans are on their march to get the rights their government owes them.

Step-by-step explanation:

Martin Luther King used this metaphor in his speech “I have a Dream”. In this speech he describes the struggles the African Americans face for their rights. He uses the metaphor “cashing the check” because when someone promises a check we will get the money has was promised to be given in the same way he compares the what the US promised to give them.

When the US constitution was written they promised to give equal rights to the blacks as well as the whites “unalienable rights”. He demanded that it was time for the US people to keep up their promise and to give them the equal rights. This was the exact meaning of the metaphor when he says that the marchers have come to Washington to cash a check