In his acceptance speech for the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize, Martin Luther King Jr. repeats the phrase "I refuse" five times in one portion of the speech. This repetition serves to emphasize King's commitment to nonviolence and his refusal to accept the status quo of racial inequality and injustice.
The first time King uses the phrase "I refuse," he states, "I refuse to accept the idea that man is mere flotsam and jetsam in the river of life, unable to influence the unfolding events which surround him." Here, King is rejecting the notion that human beings are powerless to change their circumstances. By repeating the phrase "I refuse," he is emphasizing his determination to resist such fatalistic thinking and to assert the power of human agency.
King goes on to repeat the phrase several more times, each time emphasizing a different aspect of his refusal to accept inequality and injustice. For example, he says, "I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality." Here, King is rejecting the idea that peace and brotherhood are impossible in a world defined by racism and war. By repeating the phrase "I refuse," he is emphasizing his belief that such a world is unacceptable and that he will not accept it.
Overall, King's repetition of the phrase "I refuse" serves to underscore his unwavering commitment to nonviolence and his determination to fight against injustice and inequality. By using this repetition, King is able to convey the urgency and passion of his message, and to inspire his listeners to join him in the struggle for a more just and peaceful world.