I Have Dream Ethos Pathos Logos

From the 1920s to the ’60s, segregation was at its peak. African Americans and people of other minorities were treated as if they were inferior and were not given the same rights and opportunities as whites. As this was going on, the world needed a voice of reason. Although many people have fought segregation, Martin Lr. King Jr. was one that continues to be a symbol of peace and justice, even decades later. As a voice of reason, Dr. King must convince people to join his side. MLK did this using ethos, pathos, and logos.

In his “I Have Dream” speech, King uses pathos. For example, Dr. King states that the Emancipation Proclamation was “a great beacon of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared by the flames of withering injustice” (2). Dr. King uses pathos by creating imagery for his listeners to make them feel hope, the importance of the Emancipation Proclamation, and the impact it had on slaves. Another instance of pathos is when Dr. King states that with our faith, “we will be able to transform the jangling discord of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood”’(27). These words evoke imagery and promote a sense of hope and

An example of ethos is when Dr. King references the Declaration of Independence. The quote he excerpts from the text states, “We would be guaranteed unalienable rights, of, life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness” (4). MLK quoted the Declaration of Independence, which created a sense of reliability for his listeners, because the Declaration of Independence is a very big and important piece of text. Another example of ethos is when MLK states, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character’ (21). This creates a sense of trustworthiness because listeners understand that MLK is also a father, and he wants the best future for his children, like other