Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the foreground with other people standing attentively in the background

"I Have a Dream" Speech

by Martin Luther King Jr.

Start Free Trial

Student Question

What did Martin Luther King, Jr's banking metaphors in his "I Have a Dream" speech mean?

Quick answer:

Martin Luther King Jr.'s banking metaphors in his "I Have a Dream" speech referred to the unfulfilled promise of equality in the United States. He described the nation's failure to honor its "promissory note" of equality, as declared in the Declaration of Independence and constitutional amendments. King emphasized that the Civil Rights Movement sought to claim the rights promised to all Americans, not as charity, but as a demand for the U.S. to fulfill its obligations, advocating for federal civil rights legislation.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

In his speech at the March on Washington, best known for his "dream," King described the United States as having "defaulted" on a "promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned." By this King meant that the United States was founded on the promise that all men were created equal, and that everyone in the nation, including African-Americans, was entitled to equality under the law and equality of opportunity. This "promissory note" was first issued in the Declaration of Independence and reiterated in the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments. But it was one that was clearly not being honored, as Jim Crow laws, discrimination in voting, and de facto segregation in American cities effectively made African-Americans second-class citizens. So when King said at the March that "we have come to...cash a check" he meant that the purpose of the Civil Rights Movement was to force the federal government, and American society as a whole, to live up to its promise of equality for all Americans. It was a powerful rhetorical turn, because it emphasized that for King, the Civil Rights Movement was not about asking for charity. It was about claiming things that all Americans were entitled to, or forcing (not requesting) the United States to honor its obligations. In the context of the march, this meant passing federal civil rights legislation.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial