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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Theme Unit

The Dreams of Heroes (part 1)

The Dreams of Heroes (part 1)
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   high interest, readability grades 3 to 5
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   2.43

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    banged, brutal, gathering-speeches, marches, meanness, protest, protestors, racial, racism, rally, shift, sit-ins, smoldering, snarling, spotlight, hatred
     content words:    German POWs, Then Ray, Martin Luther King, Uncle Ray

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The Dreams of Heroes (part 1)
By Toni Lee Robinson 		  
1     "That nephew of mine is growing up, Otis," Ray said. "I know it's been hard for you raising a boy all by yourself. You don't have time to travel. Why don't you let him come home with me for a couple of weeks? We'd get to see him, and you'd have less to worry about for a few days."
 
2     Dad frowned. Jace held his breath. He and his dad weren't getting along too well these days. It didn't seem to matter how hard Jace tried. Dad was like a volcano, always smoldering. He exploded at the least little thing. To be out from under the angry words and scowling face would seem like heaven.
 
3     "Come on, Otis. It'll be good for the boy," Ray insisted. "I've got it all planned. I'd like to take Jace to D.C. to see the sights. Take in a baseball game. We can stay with my girl Kate and her family. Besides, I hear there's a big rally coming up. Dr. King and other speakers. Be a good thing for Jace to see. Come to that, it'd be a good thing for you, too."
 
4     Dad shook his head. "Those days are over, Ray. I don't even want to think about it anymore."
 
5     "Well, at least let Jace go," Ray said. "The boy needs to know something besides this town."
 
6     Jace could tell that Dad was thinking. Finally, he nodded. "All right, I guess. A couple of weeks." Yes! Jace cheered inside.
 
7     Otis looked at his older brother. "Just keep him out of all this protest stuff."
 
8     "You know I'll take care of the boy," Ray replied. "Besides, it's just a gathering—speeches and such. The rough stuff is happening down South. You've been watching what King is doing? I think it's coming, Otis. Soon we're going to see real change."

Paragraphs 9 to 24:
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