Why does Marthin Lutehr King say the Constitution and teh Declaration of Independence act as a promisory note?

Question

Why does Marthin Lutehr King say the Constitution and teh Declaration of Independence act as a promisory note to the American people? In what way has America "defaulted" on this note? What figure of speech is this?

Answer 1

A promissary note is basically an I.O.U. To equate our founding documents with a promissary is to say that in those writings, certain rights and liberties were given to the people of America. Martin Luther King did not see, and justifiably, that blacks were being given the same rights as whites. So to say that is to say that the Constitution and Declaration made promises to the American people, and blacks were still waiting for to receive the same rights. The I.O.U. still needed to be paid off. America had "defaulted" on this promise by not affording blacks the same rights as white until the 60's, after Martin's death. Its an analogy, and a damn good one, I would say. I had never heard that quote. Good Luck!

Answer 2

The Constitution and Declaration promised all people rights, but these rights were not given to Blacks. In a sense the documents only promised freedom to blacks but didn't give it. By calling them promissory notes King was saying that the freedoms in them would have to be paid some-day, which officially happened in 1965 (civil rights bill) but in reality took a little longer simply because of arrogant white people. Even after 65 it was still illegal in some states for blacks and whites to marry.

That is why I prefer Canada. The only race we kept down were the Native Canadians. And the Chinese. And Japanese during WW2. And we have had problems between Anglophones and Franco-phones. And ...

Answer 3

Because "all men are created equal." If they are created equally, then are they not treated equally?