Question

In lines 279-281, Clarence Jones watched as King turned over his speech and then said, "These people don't know it, but they are about to go to church." What does Jones mean by this statement?

A) King is planning to deliver a religious sermon.
B) The audience is about to witness a spiritual and transformative experience.
C) King's speech is focused on criticizing religious institutions.
D) The audience is unaware of the significance of the speech.

Answer 1

Clarence Jones suggested that the audience was about to experience a powerful, spiritual event akin to a church service, which best aligns with option B, that the audience was about to witness a spiritual and transformative experience. option B is the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

When Clarence Jones remarked that "These people don't know it, but they are about to go to church," he was indicating that the audience at Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech was about to experience something spiritually moving and transformative, akin to a religious service.

Given the historical context and the profound nature of King's rhetoric, which often intertwined social justice with biblical prophecy, the most appropriate interpretation of Jones' statement would be: B) The audience is about to witness a spiritual and transformative experience.

King's speeches, including his iconic "I Have a Dream" address, were not simply speeches but were delivered with the force of prophetic oratory, aiming to reshape the conscience of the nation and bringing the audience into a collective and uplifting moment that was larger than the sum of its parts.