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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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Thus, Lewis is conveying to his brothers to stay united and together fight for equality. He speaks with power in every word he says. Toward the politicians he uses his diction carefully in order to but the load of bricks on their backs. Throughout the speech, we come across the understanding of what changes need to be made in order to achieve the same state of equality. Lewis motivates the people by giving them the sense of hope.

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The audience would be drawn to the cries of hundreds of African Americans wanting an opportunity to engage with all Americans. Lewis provides a brief context of peaceful protesters that have been mistreated

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John Lewis spoke 6th that day. As seen in figure one. His speech was very powerful. His focus was mostly on all the injustice the people of color face. Lewis argues that “….

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Further elaborated in Lewis’ speech is the idea of taking a stand towards something that one believes in by persuading those participating in the march to be a part of this movement for equality and integration for all. Lewis illustrates this idea by stating, “We must get in this revolution and complete the revolution” (para 8). In this statement, Lewis refers to the fight for integration and freedom as a “revolution” rather than a movement. This implies that Lewis sees this movement as something that is going to make a huge change and also reveals his confidence toward that change being positive for the African American society. The significance of this statement is that Lewis is not just speaking just to speak, but he is speaking with a

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