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

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.

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.

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.

On August 28, 1963 Martin Luther King was joined with 250,000 people for his “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington. It was one of the greatest assembling of people in human history and Dr. King executed it perfectly. With only words in his hands, he convinced all of angry African-Americans to think critically. It is like he had a superpower to convince anyone with only his words. Even if it was someone who disagreed with him, he always managed to find a common ground and that was sometimes our human emotions. Something that always separated us from other creatures on this planet. By using pathos, Martin Luther King could appealing to people’s emotions and convince anyone to his way of thought. In his speech, he did this by first making them furious about how the government did not follow through with their promise. Then, he showed affection to the crowd by speaking about his cherish for his people. Finally, he convinced people to show affection to others with how their unifying will unify their future with and their children. In the end it his method worked like a charm and he accomplished his goal for the good.

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.

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.

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.

For the majority of society, when reference is made about Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech, “I Have a Dream…”, one of the first thoughts that comes to mind is the rights that all people obtain no matter their skin color. In this day and time, with racism still being an issue, there are problems being added to the plate that is already full from previous conditions. The world is constantly changing. New lessons are being taught, technology is advancing, and new stories are popping up in the news daily. With all the issues there are today, his speech can be looked back to for a source of answers. King’s speech, that was intended to end discrimination, now relates to the world in different ways, such as: the rich versus the poor, and the next generation.

Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech sparked the nation across America to drastic measures. In the era where discrimination and oppression was prominent towards people of color, Dr. King made a revolution in hope of his aspirations that there will be harmony among black and white people. On August 28, 1963 King led a march of 200,000 persons, black and white, from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial.

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.