Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King's Historical Speech

On April 12, 1963 the Alabamian clergymen sent out a public letter discussing the violations that Martin Luther King Jr. was causing in Birmingham. Once King saw the letter , in jail after being imprisoned for peaceful marching in the civil rights movement, he responded explaining that the clergy weren’t doing anything to help out the African American racial injustices. Martin Luther King not only responded to the Alabamian clergymen’s criticism in his letter, he also addressed the local African American community in order to successfully convince them that they need to continue fighting for their equal rights. Martin Luther King strategically uses biblical allusions, knowing that his immediate audience is the clergy, and the reference to

Justice is not treating someone unfairly because of their differences. Quite often many injustices go unnoticed; but one man noticed a big injustice that many people during his time ignored. This man was Martin Luther King Jr, famously known for addressing these injustices via his speech, “I Have A Dream”. This speech inspired over 200,000 Americans to march for a better future. The passionate tone of Martin Luther King Jr.’s, “I Have A Dream” is magnified and supported through the use of rhetorical elements.

Change and Revolution have always been in the American bloodstream; from the first wave of immigrants that came to the states, the search for change and the rebellion of injustice has been constant. Through each of our distinctive eras, we’ve had profound leaders that gave our present time the voices and opportunities to achieve the goals they never could. Martin Luther King Jr. , a civil rights activist, and Henry David Thoreau, an 1849 transcendentalist, both are common public figures of their time, pushed the ideas of ethical nonviolent protest. Their diligence made them influential activists of their time in favor of making a change in American society. King and Thoreau strongly encouraged citizens to advocate for nonviolent protest

African Americans received no respect for decades and decades. No matter if you were old or young, man or a woman. You received no respect. Martin Luther King Jr. was an inspirational speaker sticking up for what was right. While dealing with the same disrespect all Negroes were receiving.

Johnson, Christopher Mr. Shipp English 1, Block 3 5/24/23 What It Means To Be King Martin Luther King Jr uses literary devices and figurative language throughout his speech to grab the audience and reach out to them through his words and inspire the people. Martin Luther King Jr uses Metaphors, which means “ A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.” He also uses repetition throughout his paragraphs, which means “when a word is repeated several times.” MLK uses Metaphors throughout his speech by using comparisons between the Negro people and a bad check coming back marked insufficient funds. “ America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has

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 Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, he uses pathos and rhetorical questions to appeal towards the readers. Pathos is showed in King’s letter when he says, “Too long has out beloved southland been bogged down in the tragic attempt to live in monologue rather than dialogue.” (7) This quote supports pathos because King is saying we should be living in a world of dialogue not monologue, also he talks about his beloved southland. This makes the readers have sympathy for the tragic issue. Rhetorical is used to appeal towards the readers in Kings letter when he states the question, “But can this assertion be logically made?”

On April 4, 1968, Robert F. Kennedy gave his remarks on the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Robert’s goal was to inform people on Martin Luther King’s journey and to strengthen people’s attitudes on the whole situation. Robert’s main points throughout the speech were how the country as a whole should move forward, why the states should not resort to violence but unity instead, and he also addressed that the country needed unity, love, and compassion.

Additionally, Dr. King describes the problem that is still present at his time. He mentions back to the documents when the country starts a new government. In the Declaration of Independence it states that all men are created equal. That would include African Americans, but according to Dr. King’s speech it says, “One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacle of segregation and the chains of discrimination” (Dream 3). The blacks were promised freedom, yet they are not as equal as the whites.

Rhetorical Strategies: Letter from Birmingham In 1963, Birmingham Alabama was a place where African Americans struggled for equal rights. From segregation to discrimination, Birmingham consisted of all many injustice activities which involved civil rights. In 1963, Martin Luther King was arrested from protesting the treatment of African Americans.

Martin Luther King Jr. rarely bothered to answer to the criticisms of his work. He even states that, if he were to try to respond to all the the letters full of grievances and condemnation others feel towards his ideas, his secretaries would have no time for anything else, nor would he have any time to get any constructive work done. That is, until he was confined to the vapid monotony of the cell in Birmingham jail, that he decided to ponder a letter sent to him by eight Alabama clergymen, who censured his nonviolent campaign and urged him to leave the battle for racial equality to the courts. King, in response, drafted his most powerful and extensive letter against social injustice that shed light on the atrocities taking place in Birmingham,

While imprisoned, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote, ‘A letter from Birmingham Jail’ as a response to eight clergymen who published a statement that emphatically disagreed with King’s methods of protest towards racism. Dr. King’s reply is demonstrated in a writing style that could be described as ‘efficient’ as he balanced different aspects of organization of his thoughts and passion through use of rhetorical devices to achieve an effective argument. Dr. King, possibly from his pastoral background, wrote his letter in an eloquent, sermon-like matter, yet it was his use of rhetorical devices that effectively stitched his argument together and gave it an interesting flow, either by reminding the reader of his purpose in writing, or to progress through his reasons in an impactful way.

Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the most influential African-American activists in American History and was a key participant in the Civil Rights movement, the goal of which was to provide full civil rights to all rights in America. MLK has written many, many speeches and letters in favor of the Civil Rights movement in America, the most famous of them being his legendary “I Have a Dream” Speech and the monumental “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. To attempt to gain support for his cause, MLK employs the use of emotional appeals, also known as pathos, and logical appeals, also known as logos, which aid to stir emotion and reasoning in the listener. It is more than obvious that MLK tends to tug at the heartstrings of his listeners with his emotionally charged language essential to his success. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. uses more powerful and plentiful examples of pathos in his literature, examples of which being his “I Have a Dream” speech and his “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, than logos due to the more powerful emotional connection they carry which can convince his listeners to sympathize with his civil rights movement.

Soledad O 'Brien once said “I 've learned that fear limits you and your vision. It serves as blinders to what may be just a few steps down the road for you. The journey is valuable, but believing in your talents, your abilities, and your self-worth can empower you to walk down an even brighter path. Transforming fear into freedom.” The civil rights movement, which lasted from 1954-1968, was a social movement seeking quality for the African American population.

Martin Luther King Jr., a minister and social activist, led the Civil Rights Movement in the United States from the mid-1950s until his death by assassination in 1968. He was an advocate for equality between all races and a civil and economic rights Activist. Because of his leadership, bravery and sacrifice to make the world a better place, Martin Luther King was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize. His incredible public speaking skills and ability to properly get his message across can clearly be scene throughout the speech. Tone: Dr. King delivered his speech at the university of Oslo in Oslo Norway in front of a large group of people.