Analysis Of Martin Luther King's Inaugural Speech

History has changed the generation we live in many ways. Many people changed history to be the way it is today. The Civil Rights Movement was a major part of history that changed the lives of many Americans. During the time of the Civil Rights Movement, many different races didn 't receive the same rights as other Americans. Many inequalities were targeted African Americans who faced discrimination. Many people took a stand against these injustices such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and President John F. Kennedy. Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy both made speeches addressing Civil Rights and inspired more people to support their cause. Both Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy used rhetorical strategies to emphasize the main points in their speeches. Martin Luther King Jr used repetition and parallel structure and John F. Kennedy used logos and pathos to highlight the importance of civil rights worldwide.

‘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.’ On the 28th of August, in 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial declaring to over 250.000 citizens that he had a dream. A dream that one day, all men and women, whether black or white, Jewish or Christian, would be treated as equals. More than fifty years later, King’s dream seems to be nothing more than that: a dream. Just last year, Eric Garner, a black man, is choked to death by the police force in Staten Island, New York. A month later, a young black man is shot and killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. In March

Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the most influential leaders of his time and played a crucial role in the African-American Civil Rights movement. Luther was a charismatic leader who took a firm stand against the oppressive and racist regime of the United States (US), devoting much of his life towards uniting the segregated African-American community of the US. His efforts to consolidate and harmonise the US into one country for all is reflected in many of his writings and speeches spanning his career. As a leader of his people, King took the stand to take radical measures to overcome the false promises of the sovereign government that had been addressing the issues of racial segregation through unimplemented transparent laws that did nothing to change the grim realities of the society. Hence, King’s works always had the recurring theme of the unity and strength of combined willpower. In a similar light, King addressed the speech ‘I have a dream’ to a peaceful mass gathering in Washington asking for change. The speech deemed racial segregation to be an inhumane practice that subdivides society into groups that essentially alienate them from the true sense of humanity; which is brotherhood. King argues that all people are created equal and directly challenged the outdated and abhorrent views that upheld the false flag of racial superiority among White Americans. Luther’s speech was a passionate rhetoric that preached his views about the future. Furthermore his speech did not

In the early 1960’s Martin Luther King Jr. and George Wallace both gave speeches on civil and equal rights, and segregation issues going on at that time. Martin Luther King Jr wanted segregation to end. George Wallace wanted to run for presidency even though he was a liberal judge he used pro-segregation as a platform to gain the southern vote. They both had similarities and differences in Kairos, Ethos, Logos and Pathos.

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.

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. Although both ethos and logos were evident in his speech, it is clear that the rhetorical appeal, pathos, was displayed most effectively.

Economic inequality in the state of Alabama, not just Birmingham, was quite prevalent in 2005, and is still very prevalent today. According to Weinberg in an article published by the United States Census, Alabama was one of seven states that ranked highest in economic inequality. Birmingham, was also one of the highest ranked cities for economic inequality in metropolitan areas of over one million in the United States. On the Gini index scale, which ranks a score of 0 as perfect equality and 1 as inequality, in 2005, Alabama recorded a score of 0.471, while Birmingham ranked slightly higher at a rank of 0.472 (Weinberg). This shows within the median income in Alabama, which in 2005 was $44,759, while the median income of the United States was $56,122, a 20% difference. While comparing the white verse African American populations in Birmingham in regards to economic inequality, income disparities become even more apparent.

In the “I Have A Dream” speech, Martin Luther King Jr. talks about how he has a dream. In this universal ideal, he imagines a society of acceptance to others. He shares his alternate reality while the exact same opposite is going on at the same time. Negroes are treated unfairly by society, even though the Emancipation Proclamation was already signed and put into place. However, the legal document only protects the freedom of the black, not their rightful place in society. Martin Luther King Jr. gave this speech to address this issue, the reason why the Civil Rights Movement was happening.

Through his efforts for peace, equality, and justice for African-Americans throughout the 1950s and 60s, Martin Luther King Jr. created many opportunities for African-Americans for the future. Before Martin Luther King Jr., racism and racial segregation were very much accepted in society and were a common thing throughout the 1950s and 60s. While Martin Luther was preaching and protesting through the 50s and 60s, people all across America started to become more aware of how poorly African Americans were treated in almost every aspect of their lives. Everything that African Americans would do, they would be judged and discriminated. After Martin Luther, the world started to take action in the way that African Americans

In Dr.king’s open letter he states that segregation is “an existential expression of man’s tragic separation”(8) of the blacks and whites in the south. The discomfort emphasized in this open letter reflects off of the unjust laws made for the blacks in south. Although, that Dr.king uses nonviolent action to solve problems that he and the blacks are facing in the south, the south continued to use unjust laws and methods to prevent the blacks from peacefully protesting against segregation. The unjust laws that the whites created to cause segregation is what really gives Dr.king the discomfort he expresses in this open letter because it allows the whites to do whatever they feel is possible to make the blacks feel like they aren’t human and by allowing them to do such inhumane things to them gives the whites a feeling of superiority that is not real. The feeling of discomfort that is expressed in this open letter by Dr.King forced him to act accordingly on the issue of segregation created by the unjust laws of the

Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote the “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. This is a letter that he wrote to his fellow clergymen addressing the issues that he has had with Birmingham and more importantly, why racism is a huge issue and needs to be ended. He also stresses his thoughts on segregation among the different races. When white people went around telling the black people how to live their lives, it caused many issues among the society. Blacks weren’t allowed to get hotel rooms at places and would have to sleep in their cars if they were planning on traveling anywhere and needing to stop and sleep. They had to break the news to their children that even though it would be a very fun adventure to go and enjoy the new amusement park advertised on TV, that they couldn’t go because it’s only for white people. And they were treated completely different from all other people just because of the color of their skin. Every one of these examples shows a society that is being diminished by social disruption. King Jr. was all about causing nonviolent tension to resolve issues. He did this because that way the issue would be dramatized and couldn’t be ignored anymore. King Jr. has made a stand against segregation and racism and will stand by his word. He says, “I must say to you that we have not made a

On April 16th, 1963, after being thrown in jail for protesting segregation in the height of the American Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr., a civil rights activist and pastor, in his letter entitled Letter from Birmingham City Jail, urges for social equality in America and justifies his use of nonviolent protest. He supports these claims by first stating his people will gain freedom because freedom is an American right as well as a God-given right, then explicates how the methods of law enforcement are unjust because any protection of segregation is immoral, and finally claims all of the people who have made sacrifices on the path to a segregation-free America will be the people to unify the country. Through King’s use of tone,

The term “segregation” was used many times in Dr. King’s letter. He referred to it as the “disease of segregation”, demonstrating how disgusting it truly is (King, 4, para 2). He told of when his daughter wanted to go to a new amusement park, but he had to tell her “Fun-town is closed to colored children” (King, 4, para 5). This story shows how truly heartbreaking segregation is to black children, and their families. No one should feel like less than human, and not get to experience life to its fullest just because of the color of their

Here one comes across the two sides of one great debate: the question of equality in color. There are two people: Martin Luther King, a black minister, and George C. Wallace, a white Alabamian. First up to bat is Wallace, hitting the ball with a whack as he confidently stated this alliteration: "...segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever". This inaugural address has a clear message. Wallace will not let Alabama crumble at the feet of opposition. He states that Alabamians will now take the offensive and stand up for the idea of segregation. Alabama will wave its views in the face of Washington. Now that Wallace has made such an impactful first impression, he goes on to call upon Southerners, wherever they may be. He wants them to cease being oblivious saying, "We can no longer hide our head in the sand and tell ourselves that the ideology of our free fathers is not being attacked and is not being threatened by another idea, for it is." Wallace does not want a centralized government that controls all. He desires that Alabama should choose the way that Alabama wants to deal with the issue of race. Wallace believes that this new wave of change is just like Hitler's wave of dictatorship. The white minority are the persecuted Jews. Wow...that is a big statement. This statement feels extreme but those are

Throughout history, people or any race or ethnicity, have been exploited by others for personal, economic, or spiritual reasons. The most commonly known example example of this is slavery, which devastated the African continent for centuries. However, contrary to popular belief Europeans or Arabs did not start slavery; it was in fact African tribes who kidnapped members of other sides and sold them to European or Arab travelers. Whether these travelers should be help accountable to buying these slaves is a different argument, however, slavery is not the only example. Capturing other men for needs relating to labor had been around for centuries and went back to Roman times (this is an example of a norm that was common in the Roman Empire). Other times, this act is spiritual, such as the holding of Korean slaves in Imperial Japan. The most common form,