Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King's I Have A Dream Speech

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On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his earth shattering “I Have a Dream Speech” to a group of civil rights marchers gathered around the Lincoln memorial in Washington D.C. On this day, everyone across the nation listened to him diligently and intensely. As he stood in front of everyone marching, including those watching, he explained how a black man does not have the luxury of living the American dream. During Abraham Lincoln’s presidency, the freeing of slaves did not create automatic freedom for those once held in bondage. “But one hundred years later, the Negro is still not free; one hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of segregation” (Luther). During the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, blacks still faced seclusion in restaurants, bathrooms, theaters, and public transportation, even one hundred years later. …show more content…

presented himself in an ethical manner by creating a strong personal appeal and speaking authoritatively. King lends credibility to the nation’s forefathers who had signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, proclaiming that God created all men as equal, whether white or black. In his speech, he creates a strong emotional appeal. His inspiring words would make the nation believe that they can work towards equality. King includes white supporters as he makes it clear that, “we can not walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead” (King). His speech gives off an emotional appeal that would put a wrench in the hearts of some Americans. He claims that the nation “...can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality” (King). He also alludes to the Declaration of Independence when he lists the three unalienable rights of Americans: life, liberty, and the pursuit of