Martin Luther King I Have A Dream Speech Thesis

In August 1963 Martin Luther King electrified the American population with his extremely powerful 'I Have A Dream ' speech. This speech is extremely effective as King 's use of rhetoric demands racial justice in an unjust society. Martin Luther King use of carefully planned use of language through a wide range of techniques make 's this speech an effective one through both the oral delivery and written text. The techniques of repetition, quotations, specific examples to moments in American History and metaphors emphasize King 's main argument in this speech, where he believes ' 'America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as its citizens of colour are concerned ' ' and he calls for the Negro community to use their voice in society

Martin Luther King Jr. was an important figure in gaining civil rights throughout the 1960’s and he’s very deserving of that title as seen in both his “I Have a Dream” speech and his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” letter. In both of these writings Dr. King uses logos - logical persuasion - and pathos - emotional appeal - to change the opinions of people who were for segregation and against civil rights. Although King was arrested for a nonviolent protest, he still found a way to justify his actions with the use of logos and pathos. MLK uses both ways to gain the attention and agreement of the audience but, he uses pathos not just more, but in a more relatable way in order to appeal to his audience. The “I Have a Dream” speech is well known throughout history to be one of the most famous speeches to be on the subject of civil rights.

On top of that Martin Luther delivered his speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial before more than 200,000 people on August 28,1963. Martin Luther’s main purpose was to show the people of America, the deep depths of segregation and separation and how the negro still suffers today as he quoted- “One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished … in his own land”. He also uses some crucial events that had occurred in the past like the Emancipation Proclamation which was issued by President Abraham Lincoln in January 1st 1863. He also used words from the supreme court- “Separation is not equal”-1956. These two examples were ethos as he has credible sources.

One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself in exile in his own land. So we’ve come here today to dramatize an appalling condition.” This quote demonstrates how Martin Luther King, Jr. was against Segregation. He even says “One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination.” On the other hand, Governor George C. Wallace points out how he is for segregation. In the text it states, “In the name of the greatest people that ever trod the earth, I draw a line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny . .

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have A Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial in front of thousands of people, both black and white. Dr. King delivered a speech that talks about the racial inequality that existed in America for years, saying how it needed to end. The people that had attended that speech were in support of King’s ideas to end the long battle of racial injustice that was running rampant at the time. The speech resonated with people all over America, having an enormous effect that helped to end racial injustice. In the speech King used many literary devices to emphasize the importance of bringing justice to the people who had been treated unequally because this justice would will lead to peace.

I Have a Dream was written in such condition to fight for their own rights. In fact, this article is still of great value since Black man are still discriminated today. I Have a Dream had used many rhetoric to make it a good speech draft and make it spread worldwide. This paper tends to analyze the Simile and Metaphor used in this article and how can

One of the reasons it reached so many people is in the speech it has an appeal to reason, and no one can refuse reason. “Five score and seven years ago, a great American, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice… But one hundred years later, the Negro is still not free.”(King 261). This selection from the speech shows how he uses a real source, the Emancipation Proclamation, to prove his point, and this works to persuade people that always rationalize the situation. Another acclaimed work of Martin Luther King Jr. is his “Letter from Birmingham Jail’.

He then goes on to create a very logical appeal when stating that the Emancipation Proclamation gave “hope to millions of Negro slaves who had seared in the flames of withering injustice”. The Emancipation Proclamation was the first event where African – American’s were increasing up the ladder of social hierarchy. Dr King uses anaphora, the repetition of a word or words at the beginning of successive clauses, to create an appeal of emotion and logic. He describes that it has been one hundred years after the Emancipation Proclamation but still “the life of the Negro is still badly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination”, “the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity”, “the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and

Martin Luther King Junior's famous "I Have a Dream" speech brings forth a powerful message to the general public. His speeches are inspiring and command attention. Many people listen to him and use him as a source of hope to fight against racial issues. He is a symbol to African Americans as Wapshott stated, "Africans found a particularly poignant message in King’s plea for racial tolerance and his declaration that “the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination.”" His speech put forth the harsh realities African Americans face and wants to fight against them. King realizes that his people are wrongly treated and that they should not be put into separate schools and bathrooms just because of the color of one's skin.

During the 20th century, racism was a very large issue in America. Abraham Lincoln had freed all the slaves by issuing the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863; however, that did not get rid of the large amount of segregation and violence towards black Americans. During the Civil Rights Movement, that started in 1954, there were many African American activists fighting for freedom and equality. The most significant of these activists was Martin Luther King, Jr. One of King’s most influential speeches, I Have A Dream, was delivered during one of the largest rallies of the Civil Rights Movement, The March on Washington. King’s main purpose in this speech was to convince all of America to stand up against injustice and fight for the freedoms that

Dr. King’s “Letter From a Birmingham Jail” goes in to detail about the injustice that existed on the streets of America in the 1960s, and it can still be used now to discuss the injustice on the streets today. King discusses how unjust laws were made to broken (such as with Hitler and the Jewish population and the Hungarian Freedom Fighters), and that no progress would ever be made if actions weren’t taken immediately. Today, issues with police brutality and racism against immigrants (“They are taking our jobs!” is a line often used by the white population of America when talking about jobs they would never consider applying for anyway) is at an all-time high, and Dr. King’s letter can be applied to the current situation: action must be taken immediately. Americans today are split between sides – one side favors movements such as Black Lives Matter, while the other often makes comments

At the National Archives is located the draft card of Martin Luther King Jr., a Civil Rights Activist, who fought for the rights, freedom, and equality of everyone. Dr. King grew up during an era in history when racism and discrimination was the norm in America, so as an adult he dedicated his life to peacefully fighting injustice and inequality. He led marches, directed sit-ins, and participated multiple boycotts along with many other activists. Additionally, all of these actions where done to get the attention of the American government, American society, and the world. Dr. King wanted everyone to know that the way African Americans and other minorities were being treated was wrong and that these unjust norms needed to be removed or altered from our society.