IVe Been To The Mountaintop Speech Analysis

Within this quote there are multiple metaphors that help bolden King’s thoughts: “crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination,” “island of poverty,” and “vast ocean of material prosperity.” These metaphors explain how it still felt nearly impossible to end discrimination, and how Negroes are on their own with no support. The use of the metaphors display a deeper and stronger meaning to the topics that King was passionate about. These rhetorical devices brought to the non-colored portion of the audience’s attention of how difficult the life of a Negro was and that freeing the slaves one hundred years ago was not enough.

He wants his readers to imagine the pain and humiliation of the ill treatment that African Americans endure on a daily basis. King writes of vicious mobs lynching people’s mothers and fathers, policemen killing people’s brothers and sisters, a man and his wife not receiving the proper respect they deserve because of their skin color, and the notion that African Americans feel insignificant within their communities; this is why these peaceful demonstrators of whom the clergymen attack “find it difficult to wait” (King, 20). However, King believes that soon, injustice will be exposed, like “a boil that can never be cured so long as it is covered up” (King, 30). This vivid description helps arouse an emotional response, driving shame into the hearts of his white readers.

Subsequently, King exercises the strategy of pathos, the emotion appeal. In his statement, "Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all God\'s children". The great use of imagery with the contrast of light vs. dark here definitely draws audience’s attention. Moreover, by making references to the government as a "Bank of Justice" that gave African Americans a "bad check," King describes the situation of the African American people. He proclaims that the "Bank" is not bankrupt and that it was time to "cash the check". These metaphors are easy to understand and are something that the audience can relate to.

Shortly before Martin Luther King was shot, he gave a powerful speech on civil rights. Martin Luther King’s last speech, ‘I’ve Been to the Mountaintop”, was given during the Memphis sanitation strike in which almost 1000 black workers were on strike for not being treated fairly. On April 3rd, 1968, MLK gave his final speech during the times of nonviolent civil rights protest, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” is remembered by people as MLK asking the black population to go out in the streets with him and non violently protest for what they deserve. In his speech, Martin Luther King effectively uses many allusions, repetition, and metaphors to indicate his key point of calling the African American community to action; as he told them

Like instruments in an orchestra being brought in one by one to a melody that fills the ears of its listeners and drives out any other thoughts, King then targets the white moderate population, the white voters. He tries to place this audience into the shoes of the black people by giving vivid descriptions of the trials they have been going through and invoke empathy in their hearts. He says: "When you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your brothers and sisters at whim . . ." This statement brings up an issue every culture has had to deal with, death. Death in the American culture is one that is associated with loss and grief. King deftly imposes this loss on the shoulders of his white audience making it clear to them the pain the black people have been dealt.

When King gets up there to speak, he knows that he is fighting and uphill battle and the only way to persevere is with the power of numbers. King does what not many can do through the power of speech, he makes a nation realize that there is know true constraint holding them back from making change for the better of their great nation. King uses multiple metaphors in his speech to connect with the audience and create and emotional bond, one that they can relate to, a bond that unifies the masses to feel and understand what King is

King urges the clergymen to support peaceful protests before years of oppression turn into violence. King emphasizes that anyone who is trapped has a burning desire to be free, for “oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever.” Similar to a bomb, these African Americans will soon emotionally explode, hurting both themselves and the people around them. King urges the clergymen to support the non-violent protests by exposing the threat of a violent confrontation. Furthermore, King additionally accentuates the idea of rebellion as he states, “the yearning for freedom eventually manifests itself… something within has reminded him of his birthright of freedom, and something without has reminded him that it can be

We have all heard Martin Luther King’s famous speech, I have a Dream. His main goal was to convince everyone across the country to comprehend racial equality and to reinforce a solution for those individuals already engaged in the Civil Rights movement. You could say his speech was part of what made the movement successful. By him taking a stand, much attention was put into the problems that were going on. He was and still is viewed as an important leader who was an activist in the Civil Rights Movement. Here we will basically dissect parts of his speech and define the points he was making and trying to make. Throughout the paper, you will see how Dr. King uses Ethos, Pathos, and Logos to show his audience and make them feel what went on.

The day before Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination, MLK Jr. spoke at Mason Temple in Memphis, Tennessee on April 3, 1968 about the Memphis Sanitation Strike. The intention of the speech “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” was to convince other African Americans to band together and support the sanitation workers after two black, garbage collectors died in an accident. The deaths caused others to realize the unequal treatment of blacks and whites in the workplace. MLK uses ethos, pathos, and logos to persuade fellow African Americans to band together in a nonviolent movement for the equalization between races.

Although all of Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches had a multitude of important characteristics, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” was definitely his most significant, compelling, and powerfully delivered address. While in previous speeches he said that African – Americans had to fight for their authority, in “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” Dr. King stated that “[blacks] aren't going to let any mace stop us.” Throughout this speech, King did not suggest that African – Americans had to fight for their power. Instead, he expressed that black already possessed the strength to fully receive their rights, making it the most efficient process for persuading the public to fight for equality. Moreover, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” also contains stronger

Despite his original intent to motivate a crowd of striking sanitation workers, Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” served as his final words of support and encouragement to a nation still struggling with social problems and to future advocates of social justice and change. The rhetoric behind “Mountaintop” reveals King as a humble yet forthright and intelligent speaker whose convincing arguments and powerful voice directed his listeners to action. Under the “five canons of rhetoric”-invention, arrangement, style, memory, and delivery- “Mountaintop” is truly a captivating speech and an essential piece to understanding King’s legacy.

Nelson Mandela’s and Martin Luther King Jr’s speech faces injustice that was happening in their countries and reflects the hope of the people. Filled with the urge to free those from the unimaginably, cruel treatment of segregation, two leaders, in two different, yet similar countries, lead their countries to become a free state where rights apply to all colors and gender. From peaceful marches. to the end of segregation. and to the riots of the South African people, both leaders found ways to bring the people together for the simple persuasion for the fair rights of the colored.

King scrutinizes that his speech would be the “greatest demonstration in the history of our nation” he also included that “We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now.”, for that “Now is time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children” (King). In these statements, King mostly inspires the supporters of the civil rights movement, as he acknowledges his direct reason for their presence and for his insightful words to the nation. King uses “now” as a sense urgency to assert time, and includes “God” as a technique to increase his audience’s inspiration by attacking at their emotions, while incorporating purpose. Traditionally, the purpose of a speech impacts the attitudes and feelings of the author’s audience.

By Martin Luther King Jr’s usage of emotive language, he connects the suffering of the social group to the African Americans, this approach alerts the audience which causes them to feel agitated about the racial segregation the blacks had to endure. He utilizes manipulation to get the best of his readers so that they feel sympathy. Martin Luther King explains,

Although at first a reader may believe that Martin Luther King’s speeches I Have a Dream and On the Mountaintop are more alike than different, it is actually the opposite. While the themes of both are civil rights for Negros, the speeches themselves are quite different. I have a Dream in many ways sets the stage for the Civil Rights movement and peaceful protest, while On the Mountaintop, written almost five years later, describes the long and painful Civil Rights journey, thanking those who have joined in unity, and calling for people everywhere to act in the name of others. Both Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream and On the Mountaintop are historic, powerful speeches quoted whenever the topic of civil rights is discussed or studied, but I do wonder if people realize how truly different the purpose and content of each of speeches were at the time they were given.