On August 28th, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr gave us one of one of the most rhetorically moving speeches ever given. Titled as the “I Have a Dream Speech,” he read this speech to the “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom”. As a civil right mover he gave this great speech to all Americans (black and white) so that he could give off the idea of equality on the same level. Because of his crowd of mix races King made sure to make his speech imploring to all no matter what the race that they may be. He uses metaphorical imagery, powerful diction,and symbolism to create an impact on the audience. King’s dialect showed the audience civil right issues, involving many rhetorical strategies using ethos, logos, and pathos, to a racially tempered crowd whom he viewed as different, but not equal. From the very beginning of it , King brings his crowd back to the origin of America when the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, that freed all slaves and gave hope to the former slaves. But immediately after Dr. King speaks out on how after 100 years Blacks still do not have the free will that is deserved. He points out the irony of America because Black Americans were still not truly free. Right after that, he alludes to another American writing, the Declaration of …show more content…
was able to give hope about the future to his audience by using logos, ethos and pathos. Because of his background in civil rights, he uses ethos to capture his crowds attention. Also, he shows us how logically flawed America was for it did not follow the principles it was based on. In conclusion, he uses suffering to emotionally inspire Americans to take a stand and do something for their future and families. His speech was so persuading and rhetorically satisfactory that it motivated the government take action on civil rights in America. King also received a Nobel Peace Award. This speech was so powerful that it took a step forward in fixing injustice racial problems in
Martin Luther King Jr. in his “I Have a Dream” speech taught America about social equality. Martin Luther King Jr. in a major civil rights protest (the March on Washington for jobs and freedom) eloquently persuaded the country into racial equality. Martin Luther King Jr. employed relatable and ethos inducing diction and anaphora, to articulate an effective speech on equality for Black Americans. Dr. King utilized diction carefully and meticulously as he crafted his excellent message to the people. The speaker frequently employed the words “we”, “us”, and “my friends”.
Neftali Montalvo Professor Andrew Spencer English 1301 October 2, 2014 WA 2 Freedom Nineteen sixty-three was a year of unprecedented social unrest in the United States of America. The civil rights movements were in full swing and continued to escalate. The social divide between the black and white communities had reached a state of crisis. No solutions were readily apparent and the incidence of violence was so great that it was hardly appalling to hear of it.
In his “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” Martin Luther King Jr. uses rhetoric to provide firsthand accounts of the suffering blacks have endured. He gives evidence to why he is right for breaking laws while leading civil disobedience movements. He creates his image among his audience as a figure they feel compassion towards. His letter successfully persuades the King establishes an emotional attachment between him and the reader, beginning with his belief that all Americans are connected to one another. What happens to one American happens to all Americans; we are bound to each other, we are united with one another, we are tied together by a “network of mutuality” (King 1).
Not only did this well-delivered speech present King with the label ‘Man of the Year’ thanks to the widespread Time magazine, but instigated motivation for the nation to finally act on civil rights. With his afresh paved title and position as a social change leader in mind, the year 1964 conveyed innovative light to America when Congress passed the revolutionary Civil Rights Act, virtually disposing the previous legal racial segregation. Dr. King became the youngest person to win and accept the Noble Peace Prize, at the ripe age of 35 in 1965, which also marked the year Congress passed the Voting Rights Act that eliminated the voting barriers African Americans had been victim
King’s use of pathos helps him to advances his ideas. King is able to pull to his audience’s hearts by referring to the people who fight for desegregation as heroes. He states how these heroes “will be the James Merediths… old, oppressed, battered Negro women… young high school and college students, young ministers and… their elders” (King 4). King reminds his audience that there are many heroes in the world, and the heroes who fight for segregation will be young and old. King tells his audience they can be heroes, further developing King’s view of a socially free America.
Martin Luther King Jr., a minister and social activist, led the Civil Rights Movement in the United States from the mid-1950s until his death by assassination in 1968. He was an advocate for equality between all races and a civil and economic rights Activist. Because of his leadership, bravery and sacrifice to make the world a better place, Martin Luther King was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize. His incredible public speaking skills and ability to properly get his message across can clearly be scene throughout the speech. Tone: Dr. King delivered his speech at the university of Oslo in Oslo Norway in front of a large group of people.
In the beginning of the speech Dr. King gives an example of pathos and explains how even though African Americans live in a land of freedom, they are still being filed for their skin color. “...the (colored) is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land ”(King 261). When he used the words languished and exile it attracts listeners and gives them a small perspective on how the African Americans
Dr. Martin Luther King Junior, a well-known civil rights leader, took many actions and went through many dangerous procedures to get his views on segregation and equality amongst all people across when presenting his famous, “I Have a Dream” speech. Numerous facts were stated to help in proving his beliefs to be true. These facts sat well with his already exquisite credibility earned from being such a well-mannered, genuine, and respected man. As factual as the speech was, Dr. King did not fail to speak with incredible passion in his voice and emotions so strong, connecting with them was inevitable. These components were essential to making Dr. Kings’ main message crystal clear; it was time for the government to make a drastic change in society’s effort towards putting an end to racial discrimination.
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.
A powerful thing about King 's speech is the language he uses. One emotive phrase is, “we cannot walk alone.” The idea here is that the blacks need to fight together, even if they are being segregated. This is powerful because it unifies the people, who are fighting for the same thing- their freedom.
This reference in particular evokes the strongest emotional response from black people because many African Americans revered Lincoln for his decision to sign the revolutionary Emancipation Proclamation, and how the document symbolized a free future for slaves--the ancestors of the blacks in the crowd. But the next few lines following this allusion also persuades those ignorant of how little things have changed by highlighting the “manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination” that blacks still suffer from despite the hundred year gap. Here, he uses the connotations of “manacles” and “chains” to evoke a negative emotional response from the audience, especially from those unaware of the need to change, causing their opinion to match the speaker’s: against segregation. Additionally, King weaves biblical allusions into his speech to appeal to the Christians within the crowd. He uses the “dark and desolate valley of segregation” to illustrate the injustice African Americans have endured for centuries and juxtapositions it with the “sunlit path of racial justice” to exemplify a future where true freedom exists for
He places the strong authority of the declaration on his side to show how the American people are in contradiction to their own “sacred obligation” and the Negros have gotten a “bad check.” A metaphor representing the unfulfilled promise of human rights for the African Americans. King skillfully evokes an emotional response from all races with the use of religion: “Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children.” By doing this he finds a common ground that brings black and whites closer with a common belief in God they share, as well as the mention of
I have a dream speech Analysis Martin Luther king Jr once said,“ I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration of freedom in the history of our nation.” He addressed these words on August of 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial after marching through the streets of Washington. He addressed segregation injustice and racial discrimination against African Americans that took place during his era, in his “I have a dream speech.” He recognized that american was founded on freedom, democracy where each individual has a voice and matters. Only few weeks back protesters were getting arrested for fighting for equality.
Both lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and Martin Luther King's “I have a dream” speech are similar in that they both express the concept of freedom to achieve their purpose. However, they each have different ideas about freedom, and about what they want their audience to do. Both influential speeches rely heavily on rhetorical devices to convey their purpose. In King’s speech, the use of sensory and visceral language is abundant, creating an emotional and powerful atmosphere. “Manacles of discrimination,” “Lonely island of poverty” and “Chains of discrimination” paint a bleak picture of life as a minority in America, and contrasts phrases such as “Bright day of justice” and “Sacred obligation” which symbolize freedom.
It is rousing, motivational and filled with emotion. The aim of my investigation is to see how Martin Luther King uses language to create a speech of this nature that will persuade the audience to support the Civil Rights movement in America. It has become almost an defining moment for the cause. Alongside King 's speech, I have also chosen study the similarities between King 's speech and Abraham Lincoln 's 'Gettysburg Address ', as Martin Luther Kings refers to this in his speech, and are related as both aim to promote peace and equality. As this is much shorter speech, I will be looking at it in less depth.