I Have a Dream: Visions of America Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph.Sentence)

Quote #4

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. (10.5)

This quote only references the South. "I Have a Dream" focused its attention on the states where racism was the worst, not the ones without much history of slavery. In MLK's vision, even the worst parts of the country (*cough Alabama *cough) wouldn't remain the worst.

Quote #5

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true. (20.1)

This line blatantly states that America can't be great unless it finally becomes good—by living up to its promise of equality, and finally cashing that "bad check" (4.5) issued to African Americans.