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Rhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech

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The “I Have a Dream” speech is one of the most influential and memorable speeches in American history. It is delivered by Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK), a prominent civil rights activist and Baptist minister, on August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. This speech was targeted towards the Black and White American public and was intended to bring awareness of the inequality and to give them hope and faith that one day everyone would be equal. This speech analysis will analyse how the use of allusions, anecdotes, and counter arguments is used to convince King’s audience of his beliefs on civil rights. Allusions are used in this speech to create associations with the American ideals of freedom, equality, and justice, and to persuade MLK’s audiences of his belief in civil rights. King uses allusions throughout the speech to create ethos by quoting from historical documents that express the American values of freedom and equality, …show more content…

King uses counterarguments in his speech effectively, to challenge the audience’s thinking and persuade them to embrace his vision for a racially equal society. This technique is specifically used to connect with the audience and foster a sense of shared responsibility for social change. A notable example of this, is when King addresses the criticism of the Civil Rights Movement being too disruptive, stating that “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” This statement challenges the notion that change can be achieved quietly and gently, and instead that resistance and disruption are necessary components of the struggle for equality. This specific quote is powerful, because it challenges the status quo and calls for radical change in the name of justice and freedom. By incorporating counterarguments, King was able to strengthen his argument, engage the audience emotionally, and convince them to join the fight for

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