A Rhetorical Analysis Of Nelson Mandela's Speech

In the 1930’s it was rare for a black South African to attend college. But Mandela not only attended, he graduated, got a degree from law school, and set up a practice in Johannesburg which he hoped could support his small family. Yet apartheid was always a humiliation to him. When the Afrikaner, or Dutch South African, Nationalists came to power in the 1948 election, the segregation habits of the past three hundred years became law. Hoping for a brighter future, Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC) and became its first Youth Leader.

“Hundreds and thousands of Africans are thrown into jail each year under pass laws. Even worse than this is the fact that pass laws keep husband and wife apart and lead to the breakdown of family life.”(Nelson Mandela- April 20,1964 “An Ideal in Which I Am Prepared to Die) This quote comes from a well known African leader Nelson Mandela who fought to help his people in South Africa against apartheid, A set of laws which allowed whites to have all the power in South Africa from 1948 to 1991. He explains in the quote the mistreatment of his fellow Black, Native Africans forced out of homes and jobs due to the white government. Nelson Mandela and many other great leaders used certain rhetorical techniques to convince their people that apartheid is negatively affecting their country. The rhetorical techniques used by Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Steve Biko help to persuade their audiences of their messages of the negative effects of apartheid in South Africa. Nelson Mandela and Steve Biko were both activists in the fight against apartheid in South Africa, while Desmond Tutu is an Archbishop who created TRC (Truth and Reconciliation Commission). Nelson Mandela soon became the president of Africa, Steve Biko was murdered by police, Archbishop Desmond Tutu continued helping the truth behind apartheid get out so South Africans can have peace. The rhetorical techniques used in Nelson Mandela’s “An Ideal for Which I Am Prepared to Die” were pathos which is used to persuade a reader by making them feel emotional for the cause as if it is important to them as well which is an appeal to emotion, ethos to credit himself for his hard work which is the appeal to credibility , and logos a logical apply which is using facts about how it’s affecting them, Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s “Forgiveness is Liberating” also uses pathos while applying repetition, the technique of repeating a phrase to persuade the reader that what they are saying is correct and anecdote which is to tell the reader a story of the event to convince them, while Steve Biko’s “Black Consciousness and the Quest for True Humanity” also as Nelson Mandela’s “An Ideal for Which I Am Prepared to Die” applied to logic and used the appeal to credibility.

Martin Luther King Jr. built his speech around fighting unjust conditions placed on both African Americans and soldiers of the Vietnam war with non-violent protest. King is arguably the best speaker the world has seen, he knows how to get his audience passionate about the problems America faces while also informing them of what causes these problems.

In the most paramount time of racism in America, there a voice that enacted a call for change. Martin Luther King was a Baptist minister and social activist who spent countless years, fighting for a civil rights. It was on the date of August 28th, 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln memorial is where King made his leap of faith and spoke out on the injustice of African Americans. His dream for African Americans to be equal, appealed to the emotions of his audience. The desire to live a civil life and not be oppressed was felt by many. Martin Luther King delivered a speech that would immensely make an impact on the country.

On the day of August 28th, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave the world’s most famous speech on the front steps of the Lincoln Memorial. The speech was lively announced on a bright sunny day in front of a heavy crowd, which is said to of had 250,000 mixed racial people standing before the podium. The crowd went wild while he spoke about his future motives to change the way America treats African Americans. The speech was given to persuade a change in America, by ending segregation and giving equal rights to the African American race. Martin Luther King was a Baptist minister, and a social activist. He led the civil rights movement from the mid-1950’s to his heavy-hearted death, when he was assassinated on April 4th, 1968. Although he was never around to see the beautiful work he had accomplished, his speech and motive helped in creating the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Dr. King performed a motivational speech by using Ethos, Pathos, and Logos, which influenced Americans to believe the idea that all men were created equal.

In these excerpts from his speech, he talks about his experiences as in what he has seen and heard. For example, he talks about how he watched both black and white men waging war against Vietnam, burning down huts and crushing men’s deepest dreams. Martin Luther King Jr. speaks about the cruel irony of this war when in Southwest Georgia and East Harlem the same thing is happening only its Us citizens fighting each other. This type of argument is compelling because it speaks of a horror that to most US citizens have no way to relate to and compares it to the Vietnam which citizens saw first hand. He also appeals to the hearts of the masses using their sympathy for the soldiers and connects this to the residents

I am going to begin by asking who is Nelson Mandela. Because his name is very popular in the old and new generation. Nelson Mandela was born July 18,1918 in mvezo, south Africa

The life story of Nelson Mandela has long become a legend, a story that transcends race, borders, culture, or language. He is one of the greatest leaders to ever step foot on this Earth. He was willing to give up his own personal freedoms for the good of his people. Still, his decisions at major points in his lifetime hold lessons for individuals who are inspired of becoming good leaders. Many leaders are inspired by the actions and decision-makings abilities of Mandela. He kept the interest of others before his own. This is what made Nelson Mandela a great leader, and worthy of winning a Nobel Prize. From the decisions he made, and his life experiences while fighting for human rights, one can conclude that Mandela is truly

Later in his speech he enhances his already established authority in the movement, by mentioning that, due to his involvement in organizing strike with fellow Africans, he “consequently… had to leave” his “home and family…and go into hiding to avoid arrest” (paragraph 13). This resulted from the unjust laws established by the current white-dominated South African government to halt black progression. This aided in highlighting the importance of the movement in his life, he is so faithful that he would leave his family to reach the objectives of the ANC and its supporters. Qualities like this established him distant from just any other social movement leader. Another way Mandela employs ethos is by using the credibility of others.

We all live in a civil society in a country where we have equal rights and everyone gets the same kind treatment,sounds great right, and it is hard to imagine having all those privileges taken away. But the world wasn't all cheery and great less than 100 years ago the people of India and South Africa were discriminated and unjustly treated by people who were not even native to their region but another one more northern. It sounds dreadful because it was dreadful, but in hardships there are always motivating people like Mahatma Gandhi who liberated India from British rule by motivating a generation and many to come, to stand up for injustices in their life or the life of others.Furthermore, it is people like Nelson Mandela, who worked hard and got jailed for his belief of equal rights for all people no matter the color of their skin.Even if they both are inspirational and had to sacrifice greatly for their respective nation. One person will always come on top of the rest and that position was intended for Mahatma Gandhi.Therefore, you can infer this literary analysis will confirm the thesis that Mahatma Gandhi was the greater civil right activist. For the author for Eulogy For Mahatma Gandhi clearly states, “that man with divine fire, changed us also--and such as we are, we have been molded by him during these years; and out of that divine fire many of us also took a small spark…”, This doesn't make him just a civil rights activist but an inspiration to many people.

Nelson Mandela was a man who learned from his previously violent ways and thoroughly used peace to his advantage in his fight against apartheid, and in the leading of South Africa. Nelson Mandela grew up as a peaceful person and in 1943 went to law school for his degree. While in law school, he got very interested in politics and joined a radical protest group, the African National Congress (The ANC). The ANC got into a lot of trouble with the government for their ideas about a place without apartheid. Mandela was arrested in 1963 and sentenced to life in prison. The government let him out of

Nelson Mandela was an exceptional leader, as President he took South Africa to somewhere it had never been. He valued his time as President, because he knew his time was limited; often working days without a break. Each step of the way he took risks for the good of the people. When told he was ‘risking his political capital and his future as a leader’, he replied, “The day I am afraid to do that is the day I am no longer fit to lead.”

Nelson Mandela was involved with leading the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and joined forces with the African National Congress in 1942 working towards a democratic government. For 20 years he led a campaign for equality to promote non-violence, anti- racism and peace for the people against the South African

It was once stated, “Success will require an acceptance that, in many respects, we are a sick society” (Mandela 2). Nelson Mandela’s State of the Nation Address was an awakening moment for the people of South Africa. Although this is one of the most influential speeches of time, is it more powerful than a fictional novel? Nelson Mandela’s State of the Nation Address along with Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address were defining moments in history. Cry, the Beloved Country is not a nonfiction book, but it is based on events from the past. The connection between all three sources are known and make people think, yet the content and actions of Lincoln’s and Mandela’s speeches leave a profound impact on people’s lives.

     Nelson is an individual who fought through many hardships, but was also faced with decisions that affected his future, his family, and his livelihood. As we look at Nelson deeper, we can see many interesting points. He was opened to new ideas and beliefs through his experiences in the schools of Heraldtown and Fort Hare, but knew there was something better. He decided to travel to Johannesburg to find new and greater opportunities. While, in Johannesburg, he believed education would be a key asset. While working for a small firm, he took classes at University of South Africa and eventually Wits University. Here is where his mind and social life flourished. He interacted with great minds and influential political individuals. He talked to many Africans without proper education, who contained more knowledge and better social skills than many Africans with education. But, he still persisted in acquiring his B.A. Wits University brought his life to new extents. He was also talking to Indians, Coloureds, and whites for the first time in his life and Becoming friends with many more prominent African individuals. Nelson soon joined the ANC and became very prominent in the fight for freedom. Nelson was always open to listening to new ideas, but when his was just starting his fight. He believed that just Africans