XII English STBB - Unit # 2 - I Have a Dream

PDF XII English Book STBB

Exercise 02:

Write the meaning of the following words.

• Segregation: The enforced separation of groups, especially by race, religion, or social class.

• Discrimination: Unfair treatment of people based on race, gender, religion, or other differences.

• Liberty: The state of being free to act, think, or speak without restrictions.

• Equality: The state of being equal, especially in rights, opportunities, and status.

• Righteousness: The quality of being morally right, just, or virtuous.

• Oppression: Cruel or unfair treatment that keeps people from having freedom or rights.

• Despair: A complete loss of hope.

• Dignity: The state of being worthy of honor, respect, or self-respect.

• Exile: Being forced to live away from one’s home or country, often for political reasons.

• Symphony: A long and complex piece of music for an orchestra; also used metaphorically for harmony among people.

Exercise 04:

Answer the following questions after reading the text.

• How does Martin Luther King describe the current conditions of African Americans, despite the promises made a century earlier?

• He explains that although the Emancipation Proclamation declared freedom for slaves a hundred years earlier, African Americans are still trapped in poverty, discrimination, and social injustice. They continue to face segregation in schools, workplaces, and public life, which shows that the promise of equality has not been fulfilled.

  
  

• What does Martin Luther King mean when he says, "Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice"?

• By this statement, King stresses urgency. He calls on people to leave behind the misery of racial segregation, symbolized by the “dark valley,” and move towards justice and equality, represented by the “sunlit path.” He wants his audience to realize that change cannot be delayed any longer and that action must be taken immediately.

  
  

• Why does Martin Luther King emphasize that the struggle for equality must be conducted with dignity and discipline?

• King warns against using violence or hatred, because such methods would damage the cause and create new injustices. He believes that the civil rights movement must be guided by nonviolence, self-control, and moral strength. By maintaining dignity and discipline, the struggle will earn respect, show moral superiority, and bring lasting peace and justice.

  
  

• How does the phrase "justice rolls down like waters" deepen the emotional impact of the speech?

• This phrase uses imagery from nature to describe justice as powerful, refreshing, and unstoppable, like a river. It suggests that true justice cannot be held back forever and will eventually reach everyone. The poetic image stirs strong emotions in the listeners, giving them confidence that justice is both natural and inevitable.

  
  

• What message does Martin Luther King convey to his listeners through his speech?

  His main message is that people must continue the struggle for equality with courage and faith. He encourages African Americans not to lose hope, but to believe in a future where all races can live together in freedom, dignity, and brotherhood. He insists that the fight must remain peaceful but determined, so that the dream of justice can become reality.

  
  

• What role does hope play in Martin Luther King's speech, and how does it influence the audience's response?

• Hope is the central strength of King’s speech. It gives African Americans the courage to endure hardship and continue fighting for their rights. By painting a vision of a just and equal future, King inspires the audience to believe that change is possible. This hope motivates them to stay united, avoid despair, and keep pushing forward peacefully.

  
  

• How does Martin Luther King use contrast between past injustices and future hopes to strengthen his argument?

• King reminds the audience of the pain, humiliation, and inequality they have suffered in the past and still suffer in the present. He then contrasts this with his dream of a brighter future where justice, freedom, and equality will prevail. This sharp contrast makes the injustice of the present more visible and the hope of the future more powerful, convincing his audience that they must continue the struggle until the dream is fulfilled.

Exercise 05:

Read the statements on Martin Luther King's Speech and write 'true' or 'false'.

• Martin Luther King delivered this speech in Washington, D.C. → True

• The speech argues for the superiority of one race over another. → False

• Martin Luther King compares injustice to "sweltering heat." → True

• The phrase "I have a dream" is used one time in the speech. → False

• The speech emphasizes the importance of peaceful protest. → True

Summary:

Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous speech “I Have a Dream” on August 28, 1963, in Washington, D.C., during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. In this speech, King reminded the nation that even though the Emancipation Proclamation had ended slavery a century earlier, African Americans were still not truly free. They continued to face racial segregation, poverty, and injustice. He described segregation as a “dark and desolate valley” and injustice as the “sweltering heat,” urging America to rise to the “sunlit path of racial justice.”

King emphasized that the struggle for civil rights must be carried out with dignity, discipline, and nonviolence. He rejected hatred and violence, instead encouraging unity among people of all races. The repeated phrase “I have a dream” expressed his vision of a future where children of different races could live together in harmony, judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. His speech combined criticism of present injustices with hope for a better future, inspiring millions to believe in equality, brotherhood, and freedom. It became one of the most powerful calls for justice in American history.

خلاصہ (For students’ understanding in Urdu):

مارٹن لوتھر کنگ جونیئر نے اپنی مشہور تقریر “I Have a Dream” 28 اگست 1963 کو واشنگٹن ڈی سی میں "مارچ آن واشنگٹن فار جابز اینڈ فریڈم" کے موقع پر پیش کی۔ اس تقریر میں انہوں نے یاد دلایا کہ غلامی کے خاتمے کو سو سال گزر جانے کے باوجود سیاہ فام امریکی اب بھی حقیقی آزادی سے محروم ہیں۔ وہ آج بھی نسلی امتیاز، غربت اور ناانصافی کا شکار ہیں۔ کنگ نے امتیاز کو "اندھیری اور سنسان وادی" اور ناانصافی کو "جھلستی ہوئی گرمی" قرار دیا اور مطالبہ کیا کہ امریکہ کو "انصاف کی روشن دھوپ والی راہ" کی طرف بڑھنا چاہیے۔

انہوں نے زور دیا کہ آزادی کی جدوجہد وقار، نظم و ضبط اور عدم تشدد کے ساتھ کی جانی چاہیے۔ انہوں نے نفرت اور تشدد کو مسترد کیا اور تمام نسلوں کے لوگوں میں اتحاد پر زور دیا۔ "I have a dream" کے بار بار استعمال کے ذریعے انہوں نے ایک ایسے مستقبل کا خواب بیان کیا جہاں مختلف نسلوں کے بچے امن اور بھائی چارے کے ساتھ رہ سکیں، اور ان کی پہچان ان کی جلد کے رنگ سے نہیں بلکہ ان کے کردار سے ہو۔ ان کی تقریر نے موجودہ ناانصافیوں کو اجاگر کرنے کے ساتھ ساتھ ایک بہتر مستقبل کی امید بھی دی، جس نے لاکھوں لوگوں کو برابری، بھائی چارے اور آزادی پر یقین دلایا۔ یہ تقریر امریکی تاریخ میں انصاف کی سب سے طاقتور آوازوں میں سے ایک سمجھی جاتی ہے۔