Creative Writing Notes Creative Non-Fiction includes Blogs, Memoirs, Speeches, Cookbooks, etc. Speech Writing/Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Speech Writing is a form of literary writing/creative writing. Two famous speeches that are considered creative non-fiction are by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: "Why I Am Opposed to the War in Vietnam" and "I Have Been to the Mountaintop". April 4 marked the 49th anniversary of Dr. King's death as well as the 50th anniversary of his "Vietnam War" speech. Dr. King suffered a backlash from the Civil Rights leaders for his speech. This speech was the most controversial, yet most praised by historians and supporters. Dr. King discussed his disapproval with sending over African American and White soldiers to …show more content…
He wanted America to resolve the issues within its borders dealing with discrimination, inequality, and segregation. He couldn't understand how America would allow Whites and Blacks to fight and die together but not allow them to sit at the same lunch counter or go to the same schools. He said that "America has become theme-oriented, instead of people-oriented". In other words, America cares more about keeping up with antics with international affairs and such than trying to remedy the cause and effects of the people's discontentment and pain. In his speech "I Have Been to the Mountaintop" he says that "Well I don't know what will happen now...we've got some difficult days ahead... but it doesn't really matter with me now... because I've been to the mountaintop". He says that although he would like to live a long life, just as everyone else, that he isn't concerned about that. He's joyful in knowing that God has blessed him with being able to see the promise land. In other words, even though Moses didn't lead the people into the promise land, he was able to see the promises of God to know that they would make it to the land flowing with milk and honey, just as African Americans will get there as …show more content…
It is also a form of poetry. Lyricists tend to write from personal experience or indirect experience through observation of the world around them. Aretha Franklin's "Respect" was actually written by the late Otis Redding. Although it was initially written from a man's perspective, the lyrics were changed to fit into a woman's perspective and became a (Black) woman's anthem. It can also be interpreted as an anthem to Blacks given the time period that it was written in (Civil Rights Movement). Stevie Wonder's "Living for the City" or Marvin Gaye's "inner city blues" are more direct messages to the government and system about the discontented state that African Americans were in during the 1960s and 70s. Other songs like "Death Letter" by blues artist Son House, tells stories from a personal point of view or a third person viewpoint. Generally, the lyrical themes are sorrowful and mournful. Songwriting can be written in different forms and doesn't have to always follow a specific structure or rhyming scheme. Depending on the performance of the song, the overall feel or perception of the song can give new meaning or lack its original meaning in purpose. For example, "Death Letter" has been covered by many artists, such as jazz singer Cassandra Wilson. However, despite the lyrical content remaining the same, she gives new meaning to the song because of the style and performance that she chooses to display. Since jazz is more mellow