Final answer:
Martin Luther King Jr. uses allusions to establish historical support for civil disobedience, showing it as a time-honored tradition against injustice. "(c) to establish historical support for his actions"
Step-by-step explanation:
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. strategically uses allusions to historical figures and events in his writing to provide historical support for his actions. By referencing individuals such as Socrates and groups like the early Christians, who also engaged in acts of civil disobedience, King can draw a parallel between their morally motivated defiance and the civil rights movement's fight against unjust laws. This tactic serves to legitimize the contemporary struggle for equality by illustrating it as a continuation of a long-standing tradition of standing up against injustice.
The correct answer to the student's question is (c) to establish historical support for his actions, as King's allusions serve to demonstrate that the civil disobedience practiced by him and his followers was grounded in historical precedent.