Prompt: We have studied renowned authors, including Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr., who portrayed the racial inequalities and promoted change through their powerful orations. How do these authors achieve their purpose of revealing the need for equality and rights for African Americans? “Your silence will not protect you” (Lorde 37). Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcolm X advocated that instead of remaining silent, African Americans must actively fight against the injustices. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcolm X, two great civil rights leaders of the 1960s, held diametrically opposite political philosophies. While King was a pacifist who embodied the peaceful traditions of activists who preceded him, Malcolm X was a warmonger who …show more content…
Malcolm X utilizes repetition and metaphors to appeal to the emotions of his young audience in order to rouse them to anger. At the same time, these devices help portray the evil nature of whites. In the same way, King employs repetition and metaphors in order to convince African Americans to unite in order to further strengthen the resolve of the peaceful Civil Rights Movement. Although different in their approaches, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcolm X both use repetition and metaphors to promote their common goal: freedom for African Americans. The repetition in “I Have a Dream” provides King the opportunity to translate his passion unto the audience and enforce the importance of fighting for equality. First and foremost, the most obvious case of repetition is the notorious line, “I have a dream” (King 57). Supposedly, King improvised his speech in response to the call of Mahalia Jackson when she cried out: “‘Tell them about the dream, Martin!’” (Branch 882). As he went on with his speech semi-extemporaneously, he continued to employ anaphora. This short and simple yet powerful repetition resonates with the audience since pursuing a dream is relatable. His dream was not an outlandish one—no, it was a dream that all of the