Rhetorical Analysis Of Dr. Martin Luther King's I Have A Dream Speech

Have you ever dealt with an undesirable situation and envisioned something for the better? Have you ever given your parents a presentation in the hopes that you would get what you desired for? Speech is an effective way that people use to persuade others; the use of logos, pathos, and ethos should all be accomplished successfully. In addition, language is important for conveying ideas to a crowd of people. On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood in front of a crowd with over 250,000 bodies to deliver a speech that would open the eyes of many Americans and promote change. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech is a great example of rhetoric, persuasion, tone and diction. For that reason being, the speech’s historical

significance, symbolic meaning and moral have held high recognition for more than half a century. In Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream Speech,” he highlights the themes of resilience, inclusion and diversity through the effective use of literary devices, such as juxtaposition, diction and symbolism. These tactics help keep the audience engage and guide them on his vision of change. As a black man in his time, Dr. King had to prove his intelligence through the use of words, and sway the hearts and sentiments of the American population. In addition, this essay will explore how certain themes, topics and ideologies connect to certain issues that exist in America today.
The theme of resilience is highlighted through Dr.

King’s effective use of juxtaposition, which gave blacks an optimistic up reach on solving the dire issue of racism. Juxtaposing images give the sense of resilience, which emulates the “dream” that Dr. King hoped for America to accomplish. Dr. King declares, “Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood”. The physical imagery of “quick sand” and a “solid rock” juxtapose each other, which gives the sense of renewal and resilience. Moreover, the rock is a metaphor for the solidity that Dr. King dreams to find in the government’s approach to addressing the disputes on prejudice. Metaphors are a great use of concrete examples to express human emotions and

sentiments.
A second theme that is addressed in the speech is the idea of inclusion, which is reflected in his use of the pronoun “we”. While addressing the audience, his diction emulates the sense of togetherness. Dr. King efficiently does this by uniting all American constituents on the significance of being American. Dr. King encourages that we live together as a functioning unit, while respecting our differences. Although Americans share the commonality of being American, it is also imperative to highlight the physical, emotional, and cultural differences that exist across the board.
Dr. King’s use of the theme of diversity is able to highlight these differences in culture. We live in nation that is the epitome of a “melting pot”. Where ever I seem to look, I see someone who dresses differently than me, eats different cuisines, or has a different tongue. This form of diversity is what Dr. King tries to embrace with open arms. By shining light on our differences, Dr. King is able to sympathize with all audiences and encourage cooperative behavior among all groups in order to move forward to change.
It is interesting to analyze how diversity influences the evolution and connotations of terminologies over time. For example, Dr. King uses the term “negro” as an adjective and noun in his speech to address subjects of Afro-descent. During Dr. King’s time, the connotation of the word did not have a negative meaning. However, in today’s speech, it is politically correct to refer to someone of African descent living in the United States as African-American or Black. If the word “negro” were used as a noun today, the meaning of the word would have a different outlook. Therefore, to avoid any misunderstanding today, it is encouraged by certain societal groups to refrain from using the word “negro” or any variations of that word, such as “nigger”.
Another term that Dr. King uses symbolically is “cashing a check” and how it relates to “insufficient funds”. Dr. King connects the image of opportunity and equality to the concept of checks, funds, and money. He effectively connects his dream of opportunity to the concept of money, which is a notion that is understood across the board. Dr. King is symbolizing the inequality that exists in granting opportunity to people of color in various of fields, such as work, healthcare, and education.
It is interesting to note how Dr. King makes reference to the inequality on education in the University of Alabama. For example, Dr. King dreams that one day “down in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers”. There is a need for equality and inclusion in education, and history can show numerous of cases where whites ostracized blacks from the classroom. Governor George Wallace of Tuscaloosa from 1963 – 1967 uttered the words: “Segregation now! Segregation tomorrow! Segregation forever!”. Governor Wallace was adamant on not allowing blacks to enroll in the University of Alabama. By referencing this incident, Dr. King effectively keeps the audience engaged by using current events. The audience is able to relate concrete examples to Dr. King’s desire for change.
Eventually in 1963, George Wallace had a change of heart and allowed two blacks to enroll in the University of Alabama.

However, it is interesting to accentuate that today issues on prejudice and racism remains in the University of Alabama. Recently, the university’s Greek organizations have received much negative publicity for its high selectivity on appearance. This is an area in the “I Have A Dream” speech that would have a different emphasis in 2015.

If Dr. King were still alive, he would give a speech placing much emphasis on the importance of inclusion and education. It is a social fact that today’s Greek life organizations share similar interests, ideologies, and values. The University of Alabama needs to open the floor for dialogue to educate the students on the importance of individuality. Each person’s learning experiences is a unique opportunity to be shared with others. This exchange of knowledge will offer solutions to remedy any issue at hand as Americans. This is a dream that Dr. King would have wished for all Americans to come into terms

with.
This leads me onto the two points from Dr. King’s speech that left a major impact on me and resonated most in my heart. The two aspects that greatly influenced me were inclusion and Dr. King’s idea on being an American. Those two concepts are rooted in my family’s assimilation into the American culture after fleeing the political instability of Papa Doc’s regime in Haiti. Like Dr. King, my grandparents had a dream that one day their family would be able to live in a country free from prejudice, violence, political instability and fear. And this vision is planted in many people who fled their homelands and immigrated to America in the hopes of starting a new life. This is the beauty of diversity that exists in America.
Diversity is also an effective way to arrive to this form of this knowledge. Diversity is not solely based on race or gender, but also on nationality, cultural traditions, physical disabilities and financial status. Through personal diversity, each of us brings uniqueness to this world. I believe the most important purpose each person has is to value themselves and others for their distinctive individual qualities. Acceptance is the foundation for a harmonious state where differences are easily resolved and respect for others is reciprocated.
In conclusion, during the 1960s, America was experiencing a tremulous era, when Americans placed much emphasis on the “color of the skin” rather than the “content of one’s character”. Dr. King commendably laid out his vision for peace and harmony in his reputable “I Have A Dream” speech. The moral of his speech is that it’s our responsibility to bring friendship and love from all different places around the world, because in a mutual setting acceptance will create a peaceful coexistence.