Read the following excerpt from Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech: “Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.”
Which words or phrases in this passage illustrate parallelism/repetition? *
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
In the excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, the phrases “go back to” and “go back to the” are repeated in a parallel structure. These phrases are part of a larger rhetorical device known as parallelism, where similar grammatical structures are used in successive clauses or sentences to create rhythm, emphasize a point, or make an argument more persuasive.
Key phrases illustrating parallelism/repetition:
- “Go back to Mississippi”
- “Go back to Alabama”
- “Go back to South Carolina”
- “Go back to Georgia”
- “Go back to Louisiana”
- “Go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities”
Explanation of Parallelism and Its Effect
Parallelism, in this case, is the repetition of the structure “go back to” followed by a specific location or description. This repeated structure reinforces Dr. King’s message of returning to places that have been historically associated with injustice and inequality, particularly in the context of the civil rights movement. The repetition emphasizes the urgency and widespread nature of the issues faced by African Americans in the South and the northern ghettos, and it symbolizes the necessity of confronting these issues head-on.
The repetition of “go back to” also serves to unify the different locations, whether they are Southern states or northern urban areas. These places are all characterized by segregation and oppression, and by repeating this phrase, King underscores the idea that the fight for justice and equality must span across the entire nation. This parallelism strengthens the call for action, as each “go back to” is not just a geographical return but a symbolic return to the fight for freedom, dignity, and civil rights.
Through parallelism, Dr. King creates a rhythmic, almost chant-like effect, which enhances the emotional power of his speech. It makes his message more memorable and calls listeners to action in a collective, unified manner.