ipl-logo

Martin Luther King Jr Rhetorical Analysis Essay

1272 Words6 Pages

The recurrence of the preposition “of” in King’s metaphors holds a crucial role in the uncovering of his purpose. The word “of”, despite its miniscule length and limited definition, easily unifies two unlike words and makes them both pertain to the same situation equally. This concept is Martin Luther King’s intention for the divide of whites and blacks. With simple, yet powerful actions, American whites and American blacks can be united and viewed as equal beings. In the metaphors, each item being compared is uniquely its own, yet shares common letters and identity to its opposite; words make up both sides of the metaphor. Correspondingly, while each individuals hold their own beliefs and ideals, whites and blacks are essentially the same …show more content…

With this repetitive device, King attempts to convince those that may stand opposed to him. For instance, King repeatedly begins a string of statements with the fragment, “One hundred years later” followed by a description of the current life of an African American (King 3). By emphasising the time that had passed, King asks his audience to consider the little progress that had occurred in that time. He recognizes the surplus of racial discrimination present in the current time and invites the audience to unveil the horrible truth. Not only do these horrendous injustices exist, but they have for over one hundred years. The repetition of “One hundred years later” emphasizes the extreme importance of time and causes the audience to need to think logically (King 3). If no one acts now, then the oppressions facing African Americans may continue for another century or longer. Additionally, this concept of time carries a significant amount of guilt. America has been aware of its injustices and has allowed them to occur for an entire century. Actions by other fellow Americans could have been taken sooner to help limit suffering. However, because little progress was made, this guilt fuels the American public to act and make up for the many years of suffering that African Americans have been conditioned

Show More
Related

  • African Americans In The 1920's

    1236 Words  | 5 Pages

    African Americans face a struggle with racism which has been present in our country before the Civil War began in 1861. America still faces racism today however, around the 1920’s the daily life of an African American slowly began to improve. Thus, this time period was known by many, as the “Negro Fad” (O’Neill). The quality of life and freedom of African Americans that lived in the United States was constantly evolving and never completely considered ‘equal’. From being enslaved, to fighting for their freedom, African Americans were greatly changing the status quo and beginning to make their mark in the United States.

    Read More

  • The Letter From Birmingham Jail By Martin Luther King Jr.

    1766 Words  | 8 Pages

    King explains, “When you find your tongue stammering as you seek to explains to your six year old daughter that she cannot go to the public amusement park advertised on TV because it is not open to African Americans.” King also recounts, “or when your five year old son asks, ‘Why do white people treat colored people so poorly.’ King emphasizes how the idea of “white superiority” means to blacks, as he say, ”your middle name becomes boy (no matter how old you are) and your wife and mother are never given the respectful title Mrs. In all instances, King it appealing to the emotional, pathos, of the nation as a whole, by including personal anecdotes that anyone can relate to. King also uses Biblical references and popular examples to connect with the audience.

    Read More

  • Hurston's Essay: How It Feels To Be Colored

    787 Words  | 4 Pages

    In today’s world, the topic of race is evaded. It’s not talked about because we all assume that we have progressed from segregation. That now we do not focus on skin color as much as the early 1900’s. But those are false thoughts, or a thought that we have not accomplished to its entirety. The ones that suffer from this silent attack are the African Americans.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Letter From Birmingham Jail

    740 Words  | 3 Pages

    The criticism made by the these eight clergyman epitomize the idea of whiteness and white privilege. Rather than to offer assistance and guidance for King and his efforts to diminish racial injustices prevalent in the South, they, instead, offer criticism in an attempt to depreciate King’s fight for racial equity. This rhetoric has occurred often throughout American history, where we see white individuals devaluing and hindering the progress made by individuals of color. For example, one of the critiques that King received was that The Negro community should be more patient and wait for society to move gradually toward civil rights. What white individuals fail to understand is that there is no such thing

    Read More

  • Martin Luther King Malcolm X Rhetorical Analysis

    1204 Words  | 5 Pages

    Whites-Blacks relations The relationship between the two races is practically the basis of the civil rights movement. From their rhetoric, it is clear that Martin Luther King and Malcom X held quite different views on the current and future relationship of Blacks and Whites in the United States. Martin Luther King knew that Blacks are the minority in the US and that they “cannot walk alone”. They need allies in the white majority to be able to achieve any changes.

    Read More

  • What Is Coates Argument In The Case For Reparations

    615 Words  | 3 Pages

    In his article, Coates argues that the idea of reparations needs to have an important place in discussions of race in America. Coates doesn’t argue that a great sum of taxpayer dollars be given to every African American. It is impossible to come up with a lump sum of money that would pay for hundreds of years of enslavement and abuse. Instead, Coates argues that the idea of reparations is what is important. That African Americans need start considering

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King's Speech

    1848 Words  | 8 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • I Have A Dream Speech Rhetorical Essay

    804 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Comparing Letter From Birmingham Jail And My Dungeon

    801 Words  | 4 Pages

    Oppression is a continuous issue in societies globally. In United States history African Americans are a prime example of people that have been oppressed. During the 1800s and 1900s many reforms took place that was to help advance the lives of African Americans. Although the reforms were put into place African Americans continued to live in a society which they were oppressed, degraded, and seen as inferior. From this period of U.S. history many works of literature were created that expressed their views on how to approach and resolve the issue of oppression.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter To Birmingham Jail

    1546 Words  | 7 Pages

    King uses biblical allusions to appeal to the eight white clergymen and their religious affiliation when he states his duty to carry the “gospel of freedom beyond his home town... Like Paul.” His final point of this section is the clergymen’s failure to recognize the underlying causes of the demonstrations they so harshly condemn, a failure causing further ignorance and confusion on racial

    Read More

  • Martin Luther King's Speech Tone

    1111 Words  | 5 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast I Have A Dream And Martin Luther King Jr.

    719 Words  | 3 Pages

    The main idea of his speech is that all people were created equal and, although this is no longer the case nowadays, King felt it must be the case for the future. He argued peacefully, yet passionately and powerfully. In preparation for the speech, he studied the Bible, The Gettysburg Address and the US Declaration of Independence and he alludes to all three in his address. The intensity of King’s speech is built through parallelism, metaphors, bold statements and rhythmic repetitions:

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech

    1013 Words  | 5 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Martin Luther King I Have A Dream Speech Thesis

    642 Words  | 3 Pages

    For instance King states “One hundred years later the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land.” (King). This quote accentuates an existing feeling of guilt towards those who remained ignorant to the purpose of the entire Civil rights

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Speech

    486 Words  | 2 Pages

    Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. developed his argument through his speech. He has set an speech out to everyone, so everyone can be /or will be treated equally, fairly. Martin Luther King to contribute a great deal to the success of the civil rights movement. He wanted his idea to come true, so he did everything he could do for it to happen. As to him proving his point to make people believe or go with his idea.

    Read More

More about Martin Luther King Jr Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Open Document