In his 1963 speech, “I Have A Dream”, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. asserts that now is the time to conquer racial inequality and it can be done neither alone nor through hate. Martin Luther King, Jr. begins his speech where the freedom began- The Emancipation Proclamation. The slaves were freed, but have those empty promises of the constitution been fulfilled? Segregation, as well as subconscious discrimination, have deprived even the free man of their unalienable rights.
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech had a great deal of logos and pathos appeals to persuade his audience to speak out against segregation and to give all men the rights they deserve. He often gave a clear line of reasoning supported by evidence in his speech, like when he says: “This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the “unalienable Rights” of “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”... America has defaulted on this promissory note, ... given the Negro people a bad check… which has come back marked “insufficient funds.” (King para. 4)
The Great Orators of any generation, era or age share common threads that make their words compelling. This is true in both literature and real life. In Henry V’s St. Crispin’s day speech he effectively unifies his troops when he exerts his position of power with powerful war rhetoric just as Martin Luther King Jr. changed a nation with his I Have a Dream Speech. Martin Luther King Jr. and Henry V share a high position of power.
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.
There is a disagreement in society. It is a disagreement and an argument that has been continuing for many generations, and will continue for many generations after this one. It is a disagreement of oppression, a disagreement of injustice, a disagreement of racial discrimination. This disagreement had been discussed, and argued as well as against it has even been written about. In Martin Luther King Junior’s ‘I have a dream speech’ this racial disagreement is discussed and spoken about in front of thousands of people and became one of the most referenced and influential speeches in history.
American civil rights activist and baptist minister, Martin Luther King Jr., has called people from everywhere to give his “I have a Dream” speech. “An estimated 250,000 to 300,000 people from across the country traveled to the National Mall for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on Aug. 28, 1963. ” (Ferguson.) King purpose is to end racism in the United States forever and to gain economic rights for everyone. He also wants to bring awareness to society that there is inequality.
On September 15, 1963, a couple of weeks after Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech, four girls die in a bombing at Birmingham’s 16th Street Baptist church. Three days later, King delivered a speech at their funeral. In his eulogy, King claims that although the children were “unoffending, innocent, and beautiful . . . victims,” they were also “martyred heroines of a holy crusade for freedom and human dignity” who “died nobly.” The speech shows another perspective of King’s leadership and how he links American political ideas to Christian religious ideas.
In his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr. intends to inform the audience of a matter of great import. King asserts that African Americans have been unable to receive equal treatment in the United States and are long overdue for justice. He believes that the time to make this step against racism is near, and campaigns a nonviolent approach to the issue. With great urgence, King emphasizes the need for equality for African Americans and declares that change in civil rights is essential during that era. King begins his speech by alluding to an important historical event.
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech had a great deal of logos and pathos appeals to persuade his audience to speak out against segregation and to give all men the rights they deserve. He gave many reasons in his speech to make the audience excited and want to take action, like when he says: “This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the “unalienable Rights” of “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”... America has defaulted on this promissory note, ... given the Negro people a bad check… which has come back marked “insufficient funds.” (King para. 4)
On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. took the stage at the Lincoln Memorial. He delivered his powerful speech, “I Have a Dream.” His speech remains to be one of the most famous speeches in American history. Fifty-two later, his speech still amaze new audiences. King’s effective used of strategies, such as, the description strategy to engage with his audiences, the metaphor strategy to influenced listeners to critically think, and the comparison and contrast strategy to persuade his listens.
Martin Luther King Jr’s Speech, I Have a Dream, brings to focus the injustices done to black people during this time. He introduces this topic by describing it as what will go down in history as the Greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation, automatically hooking the reader in. The purpose of the speech is to bring forth the mistreatment of blacks and a broken promise made by the government. This promise, of course, being All men having unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The speech was organized in a series of Phrases.
In the beginning of the speech, King goes back to the Constitution and Declaration of Independence stating that ”....all men, black or white, were to be granted the same rights” (Declaration of Independence). King goes on to explain how this right has not been kept, making it appear to be similar to a laid-back rule. Ethically most people believe that it is necessary to keep a promise.
African American leader and influencer of the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr., in his speech, “I Have a Dream”, emphasizes the longing and desire for equality and an end to discrimination. King’s purpose is to instill feelings of compassion and determination in the reader as he reveals his dreams for the future of the world and the nation. He develops an intense and strong-willed tone in order to motivate the reader or listener to relate to the struggle of African Americans and feel the urgency to continue the fight for equality. King introduces the topic of his speech as he criticizes the conditions in which African American people are being treated. He creates a sympathetic mood in the reader by using repetition of the phrase
“Let freedom ring.” Freedom is all something we all value in life; unfortunately, it wasn’t just handed to all of us. In “I Have a Dream,” Martin Luther King Jr. tries to convince all of America that everyone should be treated with equality. This address is very compelling because it uses tone, repetition, and allusion to convey a point using both compassion and power. The first paragraph references to the Declaration of Independence and our unalienable rights as Americans, trying to argue his point.
More than 50 years ago, Martin Luther King held the memorable speech “I have a dream”. His impressive rhetoric demanded racial justice, which became a basis for subsequent generations of black Americans. His words have later been used to achieve a better understanding of the social and political upheaval at the time. The main point of the speech is that all people are created equal and although not the case in America at the time, Martin Luther King felt that it should be the case in the future. The audience of the speech is considered very general, however, the speech was held in Washington meaning it is possible that the speech was an attempt to engage law and policy makers who work in the nation’s capital.
