Allusions In I Have A Dream Speech

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In his "I Have a Dream" speech, King makes allusions to multiple other texts, such as the Bible and the Declaration of Independence, to emphasize the moral and historical weight of the Civil Rights Movement and to connect his message to the broader American tradition. One of the texts that King alludes to is the Bible, specifically the book of Isaiah. He references "the radiant stars of freedom" and "the glory of the Lord" as he speaks of his dream that one day all people will be judged by their character and not by the color of their skin. This reference to the Bible serves to connect King's message of civil rights to a deeper moral and spiritual tradition. It also emphasizes the idea that this dream is not only a political or social goal