Martin Luther King, Jr. Speech The main purpose of Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech was his impassioned voice to the demands of the U.S. civil rights movement for equal rights for all citizens of all races and colors. The appeal of this organization and his speech caught the attention of the audience by the outcome he had “a dream about”. Martin Luther King Jr. was born into segregation. As a result, he immediately saw the injustices committed by those who had social power in the world around him. Due to his numerous years of schooling in order to earn his doctorate in systematic theology, he became a scholar of the Bible and its implications. After being a reverend for a few years he decided that based on his biblical beliefs, something should …show more content…
For these reasons, MLK decided to write and deliver his “I Have a Dream” speech on August 28, 1963. Martin Luther King Jr. utilizes a variety of rhetorical devices in order to further his argument on the need for racial reconciliation. Imagery is “visually descriptive or figurative language” which seems to be the most evident rhetorical device in MLK’s speech. For example, King boldly states, “I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.” MLK’s speech seems to be insignificant, it contains much more imagery than seen at first glance. The imagery of “the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood” paints a beautiful picture of unification. The fact that MLK chose to identify these people as “former slaves” and “former slave owners” rather than black men and white men signifies that he was not just referring to the people by their race, but by how …show more content…
Throughout Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech, his tone of voice noticeably fluctuates as he expresses his thoughts, feelings, hopes, and dreams. When he talks about the hope he desires for the future, he uses compelling language, overflowing with confidence. For example, King boldly states, “knowing that somehow this situation can and will change. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair,” which means to lie in a low region of hopelessness. This piece of MLK’s speech is essential to the goal of reconciliation within the race because a society that is hopeless is not motivated for things to be different. As a pastor, MLK was a leader in guidance, wisdom, hope, and sound teaching, which is why he deemed this part of his “I Have a Dream” speech to be important enough to share with a diverse audience of 250,000 men, women, and children of all colors. The goal of sharing this with others was not only to pour his heart out, but to change the perspective of the nation as a whole, especially those that had not experienced discrimination. Without this conspicuous hope, there is no reconciliation. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech is powerfully organized in the way that it is inclusive of all people; King repeatedly uses the pronouns ‘We’ and ‘Our’ in order to do just that. His intentions when choosing these words were to bring as
Martin Luther King, Jr., born on January 15, 1929, was well known for his nonviolent movement to bring justice and to an end to the segregation of the people in the United States back in the 1950s. With King being the leader of a peaceful protest, it failed to bring equally to the colored people. Martin Luther King, Jr. was labeled as an “outsider” who was “hatred and violence” and that his actions were “unwise and untimely” from the Public Statement by Eight Alabama Clergymen (clergymen). In response, on the day of April 16, 1963, he wrote the Letter from Birmingham Jail to declare and defense his movement was not “unwise and untimely” at all. To analyze his points, King used the powerful literary devices of pathos- use of an emotional appeal.ethos-
Through pain in our hearts, comes wisdom through our minds.In Martin Luther King Jr.’s (MLK Jr.) eulogy by Robert F. Kennedy. The eulogy expresses MLK Jr.’s life and love to justice for his fellow human beings. Robert F. Kennedy was able to overcome injustice through non-violent means by using repetition and allusion in his speech.
In a period of time where few were willing to listen, Martin Luther King, Jr. stood proudly, gathered and held the attention of over 200,000 people. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech was very effective and motivational for African Americans in 1963. Many factors affected Kings’ speech in a very positive manner; the great emotion behind the words, delivering the speech on the steps of the memorial of the President who defeated slavery. And not only was this message beautifully written for the hope of African Americans, but the underlying message for white people, revolution and peace. To stimulate emotion from both parties of his listeners, King used a selection of rhetorical devices such as allusions to historical documents, metaphors, similes, anaphoras and others.
Martin Luther King Jr’s most compelling point was that every person has the same rights
Dr. Martin Luther King Junior was an excellent speaker and activist during the civil rights movement throughout 1954-1968. The civil rights movement was a time of racial injustice and unfair treatment towards people of different races. During that time many African Americans boycotted and protested against the unfair treatment in America at that point in time. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of these people who protested to create a difference in the community. The goal of these marches and protests that he led were to change the feelings of the government and the people’s feelings about racial injustice. However, Martin Luther King was assassinated on April 4th, 1968 because he stood up for what was right. He was though able to do many
The famous “I Have a Dream” speech delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr. at the historic March in Washington in August 1963 effectively urged the US government to take action and to finally set up equality between the black and white people in America. Although there were many factors that contributed to the success of the speech, it was primarily King’s masterful use of different rhetorical instruments that encouraged Kennedy and his team to take further steps towards racial equality. King effectively utilizes numerous linguistic devices, such as metaphors, anaphoras, allusions, and provides an abundance of specific examples in his address, and this all makes the speech more convincing and memorable. But before we look at these rhetorical devices employed in the speech in more detail, a brief summary of the discourse may be helpful. It can be divided into two parts.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was the leader of the civil rights movement in the 1960’s. His speech, entitled “I Have a Dream” was given in front of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963. Dr. King used his speech as a rally for people, blacks and whites alike, who desired equality and social justice, but there is so much more to it than what appears on the surface. Dr. King employs a number of stylistic techniques, all of which serving a purpose too subtle for the naked eye to pick up. Dr. King uses the stylistic techniques of word choice, metaphors, and repetition to fuel hope and bring about change.
On August 28, 1963, the legendary Martin Luther King Jr. gave his empowering speech, demanding equality among the African American and white race, and the injustices that have proved the conditions unequal between the two races. In his speech, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. uses many rhetorical devices to convey the idea that whites have brutally mistreated blacks for hundreds of years, even though, as a group, they have paved the nation, laying the foreground of the United States.
From time immemorial, the promoters of social justice utilize rhetorical strategies to persuade theirs opponents of theirs claims. The proponents of the movement for civil rights for African Americans have made an intensive use of those strategies to advocate their cause. On April 16, 1963, from the jail of Birmingham, Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote an extensive missive to eight clergymen who had attacked his work for civil rights in a public statement released on April 12, 1963. Martin Luther King, Jr. primarily aimed this letter at those eight leaders of the white Church of the South. However, the eight clergymen's letter and the response from Martin Luther King, Jr. were publicly published. Martin Luther King, Jr. wanted to convince of the utility of his commitment in this particular area at this specific moment. To persuade his readers, Martin Luther King, Jr. predominantly employs Aristotle's three types of persuasion that are appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos. First, he appeals to his own reputation and wisdom. Second, he tries to arouse emotions or sympathy in the readers. Finally, he appeals to logic, supported with evidence and citations from influential thinkers.
In a time of time where few were willing to tune in, Martin Luther King, Jr. stood gladly, assembled and held the consideration of more than 200,000 individuals. Martin Luther King, Jr 's. "I Have a Dream" discourse was extremely compelling and motivational for African Americans in 1963. Numerous variables influenced Kings ' discourse in an extremely positive way; the immense feeling behind the words, conveying the discourse on the progressions of the commemoration of the President who vanquished subjection. What 's more, not just was this message perfectly written in the trust of African Americans, yet the hidden message for white individuals, unrest and peace. To empower feeling from both sides of his audience members, King utilized a determination
Martin Luther King did not know that his “I Have a Dream” speech would still be iconic 50 years later. In 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the “I Have a Dream” speech at the March on Washington. He was facing the problem of racial injustice for himself and everyone like him. He needed to create a speech that everyone could and would understand, could learn from, and could draw inspiration from. He had to address blacks and whites, he had to say things that everyone could relate to and he had speak in a way that he get the
Martin Luther King was a famous speaker who has brought freedom and fought for equal rights for all African Americans. He is one of the most prominent advocates and pioneers of social reform. He began the Civil Rights movement in the United States in order to achieve equal rights for black people. Martin Luther King Jr. committed his life to the civil rights movement in the U.S. as a positive leader, who had made brilliant achievements that helped create a better democracy and promoted equality and freedom for all Americans. Dr. King was also a pioneer and a voice for the black community before he became an activist of equal rights. The civil rights movement was a result of the discrimination of blacks. Martin Luther King’s main goal was to
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a civil rights activist best known for his "I have a Dream" Speech that helped further the abolishment of segregation in the United States. In this letter towards his fellow clergymen, Dr. Martin Luther King is elucidating that he is not an outsider; it is his God given right to be able to speak out on the injustice the colored community is facing. While writing his letter, King uses rhetorical devices and appeals to develop his argument that his actions along with the civil rights movement protestors are not unwise and untimely. Dr. King establishes his credibility by presenting his many organizational ties to the clergy. He consistently mentions his presidency and involvement in "the Southern Christian Leadership Conference" to show that he understands the clergymen.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech had a great impact on America and helped shaped the lives of millions. Racism is still a primary issue in America that still needs improvement. The audience was motivated by his powerful speech that he gave on August 28, 1963. The three elements made his speech really effective towards the audience. He used a lot of rhetorical devices especially metaphor in his speech that sparked the audience. Martin Luther King Jr. was a very motivated African American that wanted freedom and equality for the colored. He wanted America to be very
In His Speech “ I Have a Dream”, Martin Luther King uses rhetorical devices and appeals in order to spread awareness of his cause. King was a pastor, and was the leader of the civil rights movement. He delivered his speech in the midst of the Jim Crow era, during the ginormous “March on Washington” protest. He also delivered his speech exactly one hundred years after Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg address, standing in the footsteps in which Lincoln freed the slaves. In front of 25,000 people of all races and ages, he spread awareness of the discrimination against blacks, and the awful violence being put upon them.