Robertin Luther King Jfk Speech Analysis

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On April 4, 1968, Robert F Kennedy Robert F. Kennedy was campaigning for the Democratic nomination for president of the United States. He was on his way to Indianapolis to deliver his well-known speech, “Remarks of the Assignation of Martin Luther King.” While Kennedy was on his way, he was informed of the murder of Martin Luther King Jr. Once he arrived there, Kennedy showed signs of sorrow and pain, relating to the pain that the Americans were feeling, delivering his emotional impromptu speech instead of the campaign speech. There was an assumed large crowed size due to the fact that there was going to be a democratic campaign speech. There were approximately 1,000 residents there to witness that speech that day according to Lewis Sussman …show more content…

Bravely, Kennedy insisted on educating the black community of the Martin Luther King’s death, since they had not about it. Analyzing the crowd’s demographics, he adapted his speech so they could understand the assassination of Martin Luther King’s death. Knowing that there might be a thirst for revenge, he words his speech that shows that he recognizes the emotions of his audience, by stating, “those of you who are black -- considering the evidence evidently is that there were white people who were responsible -- you can be filled with bitterness, and with hatred…” (American Rhetoric, 2001) There was a lot of power behind this statement because he was realistic to his audience. Also, Kennedy standing in front of this audience showed that he respected them and saw them as he would white people. As most white men would have – he didn’t talk down to them, he adapted to the diversity and showed his audience that they were all on the same …show more content…

He had to make sure the message didn’t seem rushed, yet make it clear and understandable. Chuang and Hart say that, “persuasion is seen as not just a method to bring others to action, but the ability to develop a consensus between speaker and audience… A message can be persuasive by means of identification, and the speaker’s rhetorical power in his or her ability to find common ground with the audience.” (Chuang and Hart, 2008). He also convinces his audience that violence will not solve anything. He did this by using concern and the power of persuasion in his Ethos making an impassioned