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Why We Can't Wait Speech Analysis

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King was the leader of the civil rights movement in the United States during the 1950 and 1960. His nonviolent approach to social reform and political activism, characterized by mass marches and large gatherings designed to demonstrate both the widespread acceptance of the tenets of civil rights and the barbarism of those who opposed them, contrasted with the confrontational methods espoused by Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam. King's Letter from Birmingham City Jail (1963) and the 1963 speech in which he declared "I Have a Dream" are considered the written landmarks of the movement. Today they are counted among history's great statements of human right. King was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and was raised in a middle-class family. Following …show more content…

In Why We Can't Wait (1964), an account of his efforts to desegregate Birmingham, and Where Do We Go from Here? (1967), his response to the Black Power movement, King utilizes the Israelite' exodus from Egypt as a metaphor for the civil rights movement and suggests nonviolent solutions to the problem of social injustice. King further implements biblical theology, along with the philosophies of Gandhi and George Wilhelm Fried rich Hegel, in Stride toward Freedom (1958), a discussion of the events leading up to the Montgomery bus boycott. In his "I Have a Dream" speech, King paints a vision of a "promised land" of justice and racial equality. In the celebrated Letter from Birmingham City Jail, a commentary directed at his critics, King again displays his sermonize style and use of biblical allusions and rhetoric. Reminiscent of St. Paul's writings, the Letter has been described by Stephen Oates as "a classic in protest literature, the most elegant and learned expression of the goals and philosophy of the nonviolent movement ever written." Wesley T. Mott also commends King for harnessing "the profound emotional power of the old Negro sermon for purposes of social

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During the Civil Rights Movement, African Americans were often oppressed and denied their constitutional rights, such as the right to protest. A prominent leader of the Civil Rights Movement was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was a powerful and persuasive writer and speaker. King delivered the famous speech, “I Have a Dream” during the march for freedom on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. He also wrote, “Letter From Birmingham Jail” while he was jailed for protests. King wrote his famous letter in the margins of a newspaper in response to eight white clergymen who criticized his work.

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1626 Words | 7 Pages

Martin Luther King, Jr. had extremely powerful words and views in his book Why We Can’t Wait. I was able to learn a lot about the many different nonviolent events that lead to the Civil Rights movement and what occurred after it. Reading King’s book helps readers understand the different struggles African Americans went through. Why We Can’t Wait effectively reflects the struggle of the African Americans from slavery to segregated civility and how they performed their revolution nonviolently. King wrote about the nonviolent movement against racial segregation in the United States, he specifically focused on the 1963 Birmingham campaign.

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1052 Words | 5 Pages

King also helped to organize the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech (web). There, he established his reputation as one of the greatest orators in American history (web). In the letter he wrote from Birmingham jail, he was able to state his reason

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901 Words | 4 Pages

He writes, "It is a historical fact that privileged groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily. We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Frankly, I have yet to engage in a direct action campaign that was "well timed" in the view of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation" (King, 1963). The repeated assertion that change must be made in the present and not left to some uncertain future creates a sense of immediacy and responsibility for the audience's part. In summary, King's letter from Birmingham Jail is a masterful display of rhetorical strategies that successfully convinced people to join the Civil Rights Movement.

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563 Words | 3 Pages

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy” (King, Jr.). Martin Luther King Jr. exceeded this “measure of a man” during his civil rights acts as a strong soldier in a very volatile time. During this time of “challenge and controversy” King made himself heard in his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. In some of his civil rights acts that occurred in Birmingham, resulted in him ending up in jail. During his time in jail, he wrote his also famous “Letter From Birmingham Jail.”

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1236 Words | 5 Pages

I Have a Dream’s Rhetoric A momentous day in history is exalted by the enthralling speech and resonating imagery of a man whom wanted to make a difference. Just over 100 years after the Emancipation Proclamation was implemented, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a very riveting speech to over 250,000 Americans during the March on Washington, the nation’s largest demonstration of peaceful protest. With peace typically comes logic of which King very much emanated from his speech. With powerful rhetoric, King captivated an entire crowd and subsequently the entire nation with emphasizing while being freed from the travesty that was slavery people of color are still placed in chains by society’s gruesome yet commonplace demarcations.

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1070 Words | 5 Pages

In his famous "Letter from Birmingham Jail," Martin Luther King addresses the issues of racism and inequality in America during the Civil Rights Movement. Throughout the letter, King references a variety of historical events and figures to support his arguments and convey his message. In this essay, we will examine the effectiveness of King's references in terms of how effectively they convey his message of the need for civil rights and racial equality. By analyzing King's use of historical figures, events and religious allusions, we will explore three different ways King expresses his message and to what extent these different things change many individuals' lives and the way they look at things differently now due to King's statements in his essay. Through this analysis, we will gain a deeper understanding of King's message and the powerful rhetorical strategies he used to convey it.

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Martin Luther King Jr. was a strong leader in the Civil Rights movement, the son and grandson of a minister, and one heck of a letter writer. As he sits in a cell of Birmingham Jail in 1963, he responds to criticism from eight white clergymen. Though this letter was intended for the judgemental and condescending men of high faith, his response touched the hearts and minds of the entire U.S. population, then, and for years to come. In his tear-jerking, mind-opening letter, King manages to completely discredit every claim made by the clergymen while keeping a polite and formal tone. Metaphors, allusions, and rhetorical questions are used in the most skillful way to support his argument and ultimately convince his audience of the credibility behind his emotional, yet factual, claims.

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886 Words | 4 Pages

He wrote “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” and wrote his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. He was an American Baptist minister and activist who became the biggest visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement. This man was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In both of his writings, he used pathos and logos to appeal to the audience and fit the occasion.

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624 Words | 3 Pages

Martin Luther King Jr. was a leader in the African American Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, he was known for his nonviolent movements and methods of protesting. This involved many African American citizens to take verbal and physical abuse from the police and not being able to do anything about it. He used his words to inspire the nation into taking action, instead of promoting violence. Dr. King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech in front of thousands of United States citizen from all different backgrounds at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. Kings uses ethos to point out why segregation was unjust and to justify why African Americans deserves the same rights as the white citizens of the United States.

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976 Words | 4 Pages

“I Have A Dream” “I Have A Dream”, a quote that many Americans hold dear to their hearts and a quote that is remembered and is associated with an unforgettable movement in history of the Untied States of America. From 1954-1968 one of the most memorable movements in history took place and will not be forgotten is the civil rights movement. Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the many greats remembered and recognized in the movement for being an influential leader of his time. Having given over 2000 speeches, MLK(Martin Luther King) has one particular speech that stands out from the many and it is his “I Have A Dream” speech. MLK’s message being about peace, unity, fairness and freedom for and to all people shines through in this speech.

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1239 Words | 5 Pages

In 1963 he delivered his famous ‘I have a dream’ speech at the Lincoln Memorial, after gaining popularity following the creation the SCLC, Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957 (Bbc.co.uk, 2014). King later supported and helped organize the American Freedom Rides. Similarly, after a brief stay in America, Charles Perkins here in Australia became leader and creator of the SAFA Freedom Rides, without him, the freedom rides would not have been thought of, let alone happen. He became the elected president of the SAFA (Charles Perkins and the Freedom Rides, 2014). Martin Luther King Jr. and Charles Perkins were both advocates for their people and their culture.

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719 Words | 3 Pages

Martin Luther King’s speech, “I Have a Dream” is vastly recognized as one of the best speeches ever given. His passionate demand for racial justice and an integrated society became popular throughout the Black community. His words proved to give the nation a new vocabulary to express what was happening to them. Martin was famously a pacifist, so in his speech, he advocated peaceful protesting and passively fighting against racial segregation.

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914 Words | 4 Pages

Martin Luther King, Jr. was an extremely impactful activist during the Civil Rights Movement that gave over 2,500 speeches in his lifetime. Of these speeches, his most popular is his famous I Have a Dream speech that he gave on August 28, 1963 in Washington, D.C. during the March on Washington. Even famous speakers like Martin Luther King, Jr. use persuasive techniques to appeal to the different sides of their audiences. In order to appeal to his predominately African American audience, Martin Luther King, Jr. makes reference to Abraham Lincoln and his granting freedom to slaves by signing the Emancipation Proclamation.

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The Civil Rights Movement was a big thing for the United states and we as Americans will always remember Martin Luther King Jr. for helping lead the people and inspire change and bring hope. The speech “ I Have a Dream” by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an important gathering of people at the Lincoln Memorial. A huge crowd gathered to listen to his powerful speech which helped to inspire change. Martin Luther King also wrote a letter to eight white clergymen named “Letter From Birmingham Jail” the letter was written in in his jail cell which he was in for marching and protests. In both of these texts Dr. King used pathos and logos to inspire change and reach out to the people during the civil rights movements.

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