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John Lewis 'A Rhetorical Analysis Of The Book' March

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March Rhetorical Analysis The 1960’s civil rights movement often used persuasive language to echo the unheard voices of many individuals. Some more than others possessed the ability to exercise their potent use of language to bring forward prominent changes. In the book, March by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, eloquent methods of speech play an important role. John Lewis, Martin Luther King, and George Wallace are some that expressed their beliefs through persuasive empowering words. Let’s begin with John Lewis as he is the primary focal point. John Lewis is known to be a great contributor and influence on the civil rights movement. He faced much tribulation alongside those whom stood up for their egalitarian communal beliefs. Thus, defending …show more content…

Lewis accomplished this by illustrating an emotional appeal in his speech when he expressed, “But what did the federal government do when Albany’s deputy sheriff beat attorney C.B. King and left him for dead? What did the federal government do when local police officials kicked and assaulted the pregnant wife of Slater King…and she lost her baby” (Lewis and Aydin 169). Clearly the tone set is that of disgust and anger by not only emotionally charging his statement but by disclosing repugnant behavior (e.g. see figure 1). Essentially, helping the audience understand his stance when he exclaims, “And then you holler, ‘Be patient.’ How long can we be patient? We want our freedom and we want it now. We do not want to go to jail—but we will go to jail if this is the price we must pay for love, brotherhood, and true peace” (Lewis and Aydin 170). Of the experiences and sentiment John Lewis delivered within his words the usage of ethos, logos, and pathos becomes clearly visible. Lewis uses ethics and logic when he expressed a bill was needed to ensure equality. The examples used to explain police brutality and abuse of authority conceive an emotional visual inflicting the audience to personally feel it. There was not any room for patience, only for change. Another captivating speaker is reputable Martin Luther King whom enticed a mass public with influential persuasive language. The iconic “I Have a Dream Speech” delivered at the March on Washington—same march John Lewis presented his speech—utilized a somewhat different approach. King’s speech depicted the life that was yearned for by so many. In this dream equality and freedom prevail in his

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