What is the core message of Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have a Dream speech?

• A. A call for racial equality and fulfillment of American ideals.
• B. A plan to withdraw from national politics.
• C. An endorsement of segregation.
• D. A call for economic sanctions.

Answer: (A)

The central idea of this speech is that racial justice should be achieved by bringing the United States in line with its founding promises of liberty and equality. King envisions a future where people are judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin, and where freedom and opportunity are shared by all. He argues for these changes to be pursued through nonviolent means within the American political system, appealing to the nation’s ideals and moral conscience.

This is the best choice because it directly captures both the call for equality and the belief that America can fulfill its ideals if segregation and discrimination are overcome. The other options don’t fit the message: withdrawing from politics isn’t what the speech advocates; endorsing segregation contradicts the dream of a unified, just society; and while economic issues come up, the speech centers on rights and equality achieved through nonviolent means rather than economic sanctions.