A Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Speech

For example, the support in the clergymen’s letter is found when they are stating that there has been local “friction and unrest” from these protests proving that these protests are stirring up trouble (Wood 174). In King’s letter, the supports that he uses throughout his letter are references from people back in history such as Socrates, biblical references, and personal anecdotes about how he has to explain to his children when they ask him “Why do white people treat colored people so mean?” (Wood 179). Furthermore, the warrant in the clergymen letter is that protests and violence are not the way to figure out these problems about segregation. Similarly, King’s warrant includes how violence is not the answer, but sees protests and peaceful demonstration are necessary for change and attention. The backing for the clergymen’s letter was that the protests are causing nothing more but trouble in Birmingham, while the backing for King’s letter was that the protests will help everyone come together and fight the segregation and create a civil rights movement that will end

For instance, in the famous “I Have a Dream Speech” by Martin Luther King Jr., one of the ways it was so emotionally appealing was through his use of pathos. Dr. King utilizes pathos by relating his speech to his own dreams and family. In his speech he said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” This quote in particular brought tears to many members of the audience. Making the speech personal and bringing in his own family was able to help establish a relationship between Dr. King and the people around him. This is just one way that pathos is expressed to an audience and it worked because of the way the audience reacted (Manfredonia).

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.

Through the act of peaceful protest without a permit in 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested in the city of Birmingham, Alabama. While imprisoned, King wrote a letter intended for his fellow clergymen. In this letter, he addressed several criticisms that were being made about him and his movement. He used this to structure his letter in a coherent manner, all the while using several rhetorical

Johnson spoke to the whole of America with a speech following a great affliction, President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. By motivating the general populace to avenge President Kennedy’s death, approaching the people of the world with sincerity, and effectively reaching the heart of America through pathos, logos, and ethos, Lyndon B. Johnson successfully soothes the damage of Mr.Kennedy’s assassination. Lyndon B. Johnson influences the core of America through a shared tragedy, Kennedy’s assassination, and uses this angle to convince the citizens listening that he will not cause mayhem nor will he give up what Kennedy started. Mr. Johnson refers to himself and America as ‘we’ quite frequently. In one instance, he uses this pathos to corroborate Kennedy’s ideas of unity without segregation saying, “We will serve all the Nation, not one section or one sector, or one group, but all Americans”(Johnson 1).

Even before Martin Luther King Jr.’s timeline, America has gone through many changes that lead to events that shaped King’s world and the people around him. In his work he references those civil right movements that took place before his timeline so that he can further prove his motivation to remove segregation between the races. In the excerpt of “Letter from Birmingham Jail” King references boycotting segregated bus companies’ years prior to king writing the letter. For example, on paragraph 8 it states “...who rose up with a sense of dignity and with her people decided not to ride segregated buses,” This line the reference is brought up to show the sacrifices people made in order to bring down the oppressors that made it harder for African-Americans

1. Martin Luther writes the letter as a reply to the eight clergymen who criticized his peaceful act of demonstrations. In it he details as to why he is jailed and the many reason injustice has plagued Birmingham. 2. Martin Luther King approaches the topic with a formal and academic tone.

Persuasion of Martin Luther King, Jr's “I Have a Dream” On August 10, 1963 Martin Luther King, Jr delivered a speech that becomes historically known as the “I Have a Dream” speech. Thousands of US citizens of all races gather around the Lincoln Memorial in a joint effort in the March on Washington for Jobs and freedom, just to hear King speak. Martin Luther King, Jr delivers a speech that persuades the nation into a peaceful protest, and he does it all by using Anaphora, metaphors, and symbolism to convey a powerful message. In Martin Luther King, Jr’s Speech, he uses rhetorical devices such as anaphora to emphasize his point that “Now is the time,” By repeating this phrase at the beginning of his sentences he adds to the importance and urgency of the matter, in this case a march. While delivering this speech King has to be careful in the way he persuades the audience, and the way his sentences are portrayed.

In Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech, “I Have a Dream,” given at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963, he spoke to gain equality for black men, women, and children in the United States of America. It is as if he came to the same realization that his feminist predecessor, Jane Addams, had come to. She had once said, “The good we secure for ourselves is precarious and uncertain until it is secured for all of us and incorporated into our common life” (Bellecci, 2004, p. 39). Martin Luther King knew that he had freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, but he was not getting them in the same way that his white countrymen were getting them and he was willing to do whatever he could to be considered a true, equal American citizen. However, unlike the likes of other black revolutionaries of the time, such as Malcolm X, MLK was an advocate of peaceful protests even as the white people broke out with violence towards the African American community with every step they took in the war for equality.

In his eloquent and composed writing, he not only manages to address their criticisms and answer with indisputable facts and stunning rhetoric, but also helps elevate his cause. King wrote a compelling defense of his nonviolent campaign and incited a rallying cry to the end of social injustice. His work in this letter was just as powerful and relevant as it is today, decades later. To determine whether or not the title of this work fits its message, one must first examine what it is that landed King in Birmingham jail. He states that he went to Birmingham in the first place, because, simply put, there is injustice there.

He uses ethos when he speaks, “To the families of the fallen, the nation shares in your grief.” By saying this, he lets the families know that the whole nation is right beside you. Obama further employs ethos when he states, “they’ve now passed it onto us.” These victims died and now the country has to continue their work. We have to continue to overcome the racial barriers and prejudices. Obama uses logos when talking about how the nation should continue their lives after this tragedy. He says, ““it would be a betrayal of everything Reverend Pinckney stood for, I believe, if we allow ourselves to slip into a comfortable silence again.” He goes on to state, “That’s what we so often do to avoid uncomfortable truths about the prejudice that still infects our society.” This is a call to action by the president for the nation to not forget about this incident.

Finally, the protests were heard by the Government, which was helped to transfer to the government. In the Selma video it shows a video of President Johnson speaking to the people. He says, “ We need to overcome this crippling legacy.” He is one of the highest powers in America, and was speaking to support the protestors and help them by letting the Selma government know that none of this was ok and they have the right to protest what they believe. Knowing that they had the President of the United States of America on their side. Also the video of the President helped to show George Wallace that he needed to let the people march no matter what he believed (Selma Video).