Racial equality is one of the great challenges to the United States. Throughout its history, there have been not only unequal and unfair opportunities for African Americans, but straight out violence. In mass protests, African Americans took this abuse in stride, never degrading themselves to similar acts of violence. In one of the most famous and largest civil rights protests of all time, involving more than 200,000 demonstrators, and is credited with helping pass the civil rights bill in 1964, a very strong one, at that (STANFOED). It is also here that Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his now famous civil rights speech. It single handedly forwarded King’s ultimate goal of racial equality and tolerance more, perhaps, than anything before it, …show more content…
In “I Have a Dream,” Martin Luther King Jr. uses metaphors, allusions, and juxtaposition to convince his opponents that racial equality and tolerance is the only just path. Probably a majority of the speech as a whole contain analogies. King frequently provides comparisons for a number of reasons. First, it helps to more effectively communicate his ideas. By referencing things that are perhaps more commonly known, or better imagined, he is able to paint a more accurate picture in his audience's heads. In a passage, he compares the guarantee of freedom, as outlined in the constitution, as a check, but asserts that, “Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked ‘insufficient funds’” (King). He doesn't simply rely on empathy, but instead convinces by creating more personal comparisons. Instead of hoping that the people will extend sympathy towards him, he creates a situation where they feel it themselves. The idea of attempting to cash a bad check is a universal experience, and an apt metaphor to convey the betrayal that African …show more content…
In doing this, he makes his argument more rational. It provides solid background and reasoning as to why he is correct, and convinces his opponents of such. In one instance, king is describing the ideals supposedly guaranteed to all Americans in the constitution. King remarks “This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the ‘unalienable Rights’ of ‘Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness’” (King). This is an allusion to the basic governing document of the entire country. It is incredibly difficult for one to argue against the foundation of a country, when they are attempting to work for said country. It creates a fallacy that traps. If the basis of the country is in favor of civil rights, to not be would go against the country. To be against civil rights is to be against America. There is little argument to be done, as King has directly used the document is his argument. Further to the reference of American documents, King, as a minister himself, frequently called upon religion. A vast majority of both his opponents and his followers were fellow Christians, so biblical references are doubly effective. In a passage where King lists the conditions necessary for African Americans to be satisfied, he asserts that, “No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until ‘justice rolls down like waters, and
I have found through engaging in arguments with friends and in classes that a personal point comes across more clearly when you just present your point of view without condemning the other party. People are more likely to listen to a personal opinion or an opposing view of argument when there is no tension. Also, to the audience the argument becomes more credible when one is not attacking the opposing side. King knows that he is speaking to not only the white clergymen, but to the white moderates on a much larger scale. King addresses these moderates, saying that they are often times the most dangerous of his opposition, for at least the extremists know where they stand. He states:
He compares their situation as being on a “lonely island of poverty” (2) in a “vast ocean of material prosperity” (2) which displays the atrocious position of colored people and further expands on this by describing how “The Negro is still at the bottom of the economic ladder” (2) which presents the injustice faced by these impoverished population. His adopting of these phrases is in order influence his audience to not only realize the harsh realities, but to prompt them to seek true freedom for everyone. The examples employed by King leave the reader with a sense of understanding of why King has his powerful ambitions.
Historians offer different perceptions of the significance of Martin Luther King and the 1963 March on Washington. Without examining this event within its historical context the media publicity and iconic ‘I Have a Dream’ speech can easily overshadow progress that was already underway in America. It was insisted by prominent civil rights activist Ella Baker, ‘the movement made Martin rather than Martin making the movement.’ What is important not to overlook is the significant change that took place in the United States during the previous 100 years. Such that, many influential figures in support of racial equality opposed the March. The Civil Rights Act proposed by President Kennedy in 1963 was already in the legislative process. Furthermore the Federal Government was now reasserting power over the entire of the United States by enforcing a policy of desegregation. It is important to note that these changes all took place less than one hundred years after the Thirteenth Amendment in 1965 abolished slavery, and the Fourteenth amendment in 1968 acknowledged the rights of former slaves to be acknowledged as U.S citizens. With this level of progress Kennedy was against the March going ahead due to the argument that it was limited in what it could achieve. Today, King’s 1963 Speech is viewed as one of the most iconic speeches in history. However, was it a key turning point in African Americans achieving racial equality? Federal endorsement would suggest yes after decades of southern states being able to subvert the Federal law designed to break down segregation. This support built upon the corner stones of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth amendments in the nineteenth century. Therefore looking at the national status of black Americans fro...
He purposely conveys the message acknowledging Jesus Christ, because Christians where treating his corresponding African American’s immorally wrong and participating in sinful acts such as lynching. Mr. King knew that Jesus C...
He acknowledges that the constitution regards slaves as part property and part human being, and in explaining the reasoning behind the compromise, never refers to himself as having those sentiments. Instead, he He contends that even though this document subject millions to oppression and slavery on a daily basis, those who are elite and own these slaves would not tolerate the slightest amount this injustice if it were applied to themselves. Americans constantly speak of liberty and of America as a fundamentally free, democratic nation, yet a large portion of the population is in fact oppressed and in slavery. He adds that there was no justification for the adoption of the Constitution, that “for the sake of achieving a political object” and the formation of a functioning, effective government, this was not reason enough to persecute millions of black people across the nation (Garrison 1).
King unmasks a harsh truth about the transgressions taking place in Birmingham. This shows that the legislators are going to extreme lengths to keep African Americans from voting, even in places where they make up most of the population. Not only is this a problem because they have no voice in the decision of the segregation laws, but they don’t even have an input for any other laws. This is a violation to their constitutional rights and is most likely the reason why King ended the paragraph off with that question. He knows that the U.S. is supposed to be founded on the grounds of democracy, and yet they are selective to whom its beneficiaries of democracy
I agree with his main points that King had presented in the essay. Everyone should have equal rights in every criteria including socially, politically, and religiously. This is what King wanted for everyone. He wanted to peacefully bring every race and gender together as one society not multiple societies like how it was. King argued the freedom and equality
Martin Luther King uses a lot of repetition in his speech. They are scattered throughout but very close. One of the repetitions in his speech is “I have a dream.” He uses this phrase to show what he sees in the future of America. One of the phrases he uses with it is: “I have a dream that one day this nation will and live out the true meaning of its creed: we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.” Another is “I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their nature. I have a dream today.” (King, M. L. Jr. (1963, Aug.28) Para 12) Two other repetitions he uses is “Let freedom ring” and “Free at last.” (King, M. L. Jr. (1963, Aug.28) Para 16&17)
Dr. King is an emotional, inspiring and strong speaker. His " I Have A Dream" speech tugs a deep root war of emotions in every American’s heart; therefore, this speech is the perfect display of pathos. Even though pathos overwhelm logo and ethos, they also very much present in his speech.
King uses the phrase "I have a dream today," twice in his own paragraph. This statement was probably spoken with great emphasis since it gave the listeners the desire to change "today" instead of continuing to be discriminated against. Martin Luther King's speech could very well have been titled something else, but because of his use of anaphora which strongly emphasized these words, it earned itself the title "I Have a Dream." Martin Luther King's use of alluding to other historic documents, which also deal with equality issues, helped his speech reach the listener. These allusions were probably geared more towards the white listeners than it was towards the black because it provided textual evidence from past documents which stated that all men were created equal and all people should have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
With this statement, he clearly shows that the peace and justice in the United States is not limited only to the white population, but also belongs to the black population.... ... middle of paper ... ... He also uses the powerful words “Free at last” in order to show the importance of the situation of the black population.
On the day of his “I Have a Dream” speech, King stood upon the steps of the Lincoln Memorial located in the heart of our nation’s capital. This location was essential to King’s success because it was a symbol of our nation’s historic efforts to abolish the enslavement of African-Americans; an act which was made possible due to the valiant efforts of Abraham Lincoln. As the preponderance of the speech began, King made reference to the former president in what Peter Paris said was a “Declaration proclaimed to America on behalf of all African people”. King stated, “Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice” (I Have a Dream 2). Through these words, he was able to mimic the tone and style of Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address while also evoking remembrance of the nation’s harsh past. The signing of one such bill, the Emancipation Proclamation, was the first time in history that African-Americans were able to progress in the social order. King tied this into his argument by introducing the concept that other laws could be enacted in order to allow the African-American population to continue
On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a speech at The March on Washington. A call for equality and freedom became one of the defining moments of the civil rights movement and one of the most iconic speeches known to American history. When people remember the I Have a Dream speech, they recall King’s message about civil rights. But perhaps there is another reason behind the memorability of this ever-living speech. King, master of allusions, has effectively taken inspiration from other well-known literature, consequently resulting in a phenomenally well written piece of art.
Though they legally made all people in America equal when they signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776 the people of color still faced severe segregation. King refuses to give up on achieving his dream saying "But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice." (King 5).
But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free”. Which shows how even though the Emancipation Proclamation freed the African Americans from slavery, they still are not free because of segregation. He then transitions to the injustice and suffering that the African Americans face. He makes this argument when he proclaims, “We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream”.