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Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Jr

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On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King jr. stood on the steps of the Lincon memorial and passionately gave his famous speech. This speech is credited with being a catalyst for the Civil Rights movement and calls for a change in the way African Americans were treated in the United States. In his ardent speech about racial injustice toward African Americans, Dr. Martin Luther King jr. captivates his audience through his use of rhetorical comparison, allusions, and ethos to call people to action against Racial discrimination against African Americans. As it was used throughout his speech king utilizes repetition to voice his thoughts for example, when King states that he still has hope for the American dream, he uses the phrase “i have a dream” multiple times emphenziseing that he still has hope.” I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed ‘ we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal’”(73-74). When king repeats “I have a dream” he's saying that he still has hope that racial equality would be achieved, even though he is attacked with segregation and discrimination. Another use of repetition king utilizes is when he's talking about how they came to this spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. king repeats the phrase ”Now is …show more content…

Another use of allusion is when king states” and so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltop of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from ring from the mighty mountains of new york. Let freedom ring from the Hightning Alleghes of Pennsylvania”(32-39)When king mentions the phrase” let freedom ring” his words illustrate a vision of freedom and equality. When King says “Let freedom ring” from mountains in the states, he's emphasizing that change is here. King's use of allusion concludes that African Americans deserve freedom, and the people and the states need justice; white boys and black boys could hold hands and be

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