An Analysis Of Martin Luther King's I Have A Dream

Martin Luther King Jr. was a civil rights activist and first hand witness of mistreatment of African Americans from the mid-1950s until April 4, 1968 when he was assassinated. He was a black man who grew up during a time of segregation and injustice. King Jr. came from a loving and structured home in which his father was an influential role model and a had a big impact on his future professions. Religion was also a large part of his life and was one of the biggest influences for his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. In this contextual analysis I will be summarizing the historical context of King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream Speech” and how it impacted his social standing and life's work. I will be exploring how Martin Luther King Jr.’s upbringing set the stage for his civil rights activism involvement and allowed him to become one of the most famous African Americans in the twentieth century.

Individuals that could be described as icons in their respective countries have delivered speeches meant to change their thinking pattern and inspire change. In the course of doing this, these icons have employed rhetoric devices and figurative language unbeknown to some of their listeners. Tommy Douglas and Martin Luther King Jr. did these to much effect. The general idea is that application of rhetoric devices always serves a purpose. Some may argue that application of more rhetoric devices or less rhetoric devices is useful. However, this paper shows that despite the small or full application of rhetoric devices, if done correctly will always serve its purpose. Douglas’s Mouseland and King’s I have a Dream speeches are both persuasive speeches even though the former uses one predominant literary device, while the latter combines multiple devices. The objective of this paper is to show that no application of rhetoric devices – whether in large or small magnitude or whether in combination or sole use – is superior or secondary to another if applied appropriately.

In Dr. Martin Luther King’s speech: “I Have a Dream,” he argues that all people are created equal and racism should be eliminated. He supports his claim by first illustrating an image of the future he believes in by anaphorically saying “I have a dream.” He then addresses the black community by saying they need to take their rights, then he demands America to give the black community their rights, and finally tries to convince America broke their promise. King’s purpose is to explain the black Community’s problems in order to set them free from the prison that is their daily life in America. He establishes a hopeful tone that is meant to represent a promising future for black people, targeted at Whites,

Civil rights activist, Matin Luther King Jr., in his “I Have a Dream” speech, addresses the inequalities that were prevalent in America in the 1960s. King’s purpose is to demand societal change, so that all people are equal without separation based on race. He adopts a powerful tone in order to inspire the African Americans to nonviolently protest the inequalities present in their communities.

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, prominent figures in the fight for racial equality, took approaches to achieve their goal. Dr King’s message in his speech, “I Have A Dream,” was to achieve integration through non-violent civil disobedience. The speech was very inspirational and optimistic. As a child, King developed a sense of what was right and wrong in the world very quickly.

Every human in this world is promised to something from love to a better country.

In the 1950s to early 60s, most of colored people still live in poverty and have low levels of education, though the improvement in raising their human right was in the progress, there are many obstacles for that. For example, according to the law, it is able for black people to vote; there are many unnecessarily elaborate documents to do in the southern states, therefore, only 5% of black people get the right at the end.

On January 1, 1893, President Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery, but what did not leave was racism. Racism was huge in the mid-1900s, but it was predominantly African Americans. The African-American Civil Rights Movement started in 1954, and its goal was to end racial segregation and discrimination. One very popular Civil Rights Leader was Martin Luther King Jr (MLK). MLK was also an American Baptist Minister and activist. MLK wrote a speech that is widely known to this day; it is called “I Have a Dream.” MLK appeals to the audience stating that the Negros are still not free 100 years after the Emancipation Proclamation. This speech influenced to show the racial discrimination that was happening at that time and make the audience show sympathy.

Charles Evans Hughes once said “When we lose the right to be different, we lose the right to be free.” and he could not more correct in this situation. In 1963, almost every school was segregated, every storefront, every restaurant, even so far has every water fountain, the entire country was divided into two parts: White and Black. In Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech, “I Have a Dream” he motivated Americans to break the system of segregation by using hidden figurative languages such as metaphors, repetition, and allusions. King uses a lot of metaphors throughout his speech to convey his stance on civil rights.

MLK "I Have A Dream" Speech Analysis Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech "I Have A Dream" given on August 28, 1963 is one of the most memorable speeches in all of history. Throughout his speech he portrays many rhetorical devices, such as metaphors and allusions, to express how he feels about equality and freedom for all American citizens. King's speech possessed countless examples of metaphors to explain to the audience his views on equality. He claims "...the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the menacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination." Here, he's explaining that even after America claimed to be free of slaves, African Americans are still being treated poorly.

An individual’s duty to his/her government is to follow rules set in place by governing officials, voting for said officials to keep the popular ideals in rotation, provide service to their country in time of great need (war) and keeping the foundation of the government to meet the people’s needs. In turn, the government’s duty to it’s residing citizens is to create and hold a well-kept balance of the citizen’s three inalienable rights: right to life, right to liberty, and the right to the pursuit of happiness; as well as providing jobs for the working citizens of America. Evidence of these claims are found in these four works: The Declaration of Independence, The Declaration of Sentiments, Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech, and Patrick Henry’s Speech to the Virginia Convention.

This speech took place on August 28, 1963 millions of citizens, children, law and policy makers attended while 250,000 watched on TV as a Baptist Preacher ,a Boston University Graduate Dr, Martin Luther King stood behind a podium. He established an immediate rapport with an ever changing audience and communicated on a meaningful level, by appealing to moral conscience of Americans standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. He gave the rhetorical demands that racial justice no longer shall people be divided by race or religion. Although at the time it wasn't the case, it was a future vision that " all people are created equal" ( M.L.K.)

When informing Americans across the nation of his dream, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. proposed an unforgettable speech that would one day change The United States of America forever. In analyzing “I Have a Dream”, there are a few rhetorical purposes that are reflected throughout. These purposes are repeatedly focusing in on a particular audience in which King speaks to. Using different types of appeals and literary elements, his speech produced a meaningful purpose that the audience could relate to.

This critical evaluation essay will be on Martin Luther King’s speech “I Have a Dream”. This speech was delivered during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on 28 August 1963. This march was initially organized to focus on the economy, but as the date grew near, the focus shifted to social issues in the country. This march was attended by more than two hundred thousand people, to include the many actors, musicians, and the civil rights leaders. Martin Luther King said “I am happy to join you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation”. (King). Martin Luther King not only touch the hearts of so many that day, and on that he made people aware that there was work

Dr. King wrote the "I have a dream speech" in hope that people would change their point of view on people of color. He doesn't want people judging each other on the color of their skin or the way they act. Martin Luther King Jr didn't want white people to think black people were animals or savages for we are a kind and gentle race. Dr. King always looked for the good that could come out of this country even though many of us don’t see eye to eye, he knew if his words hit the right people then this country will soon become great.