I Have a Dream On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. presented his speech “I Have a Dream” at the Lincoln memorial in Washington DC in front of 20,000 people. In his speech he talks about how African Americans survives all the injustice and discrimination in America. His speech inspired millions of people across the nation to stand against hate. In his speech he adroitly uses Ethos, Logos and Pathos to prove to America that our nation is not built on racism. Ethos In the “I Have a Dream” Dr. King used two authorities in his speech: Abraham Lincoln and Constitution and Declaration of Independence. In the beginning he used ethos, when he stated, “Five core years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today signed the Emancipation Proclamation” (king). He was talking about one of most beloved president Abraham Lincoln of all time, who fought for Africa Americans rights. Abraham Lincoln is a role model for a lot people, so when he was referring Lincoln in his speech many people felt …show more content…
King used ethos in his speech was when he stated, “When the architects of our Republic wrote the magnificent word of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing· a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men- yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness” (king). Talking about the Constitution and Declaration of Independence in his speech showed that the Founding Fathers wanted all men to be equal, because a lot people glorify the Constitution and Declaration of Independence they felt they were letting their Founding Fathers down. Starting the speech with ethos had great impact on the audiences. The audiences felt like they are fighting for the right reasons, because many famous Americans such as Abraham Lincoln and the Founding Fathers fought for the same
In this speech, King utilizes diction throughout, such as "we," "America" and "free." Words like "we," and "America" in the same sentences and same speech, gives everyone, African-Americans, the feeling of being equal and they deserve to have the same rights. Thus giving hope to everyone that they will, one day, be equal in everyway and have the same unalienable
Dr. King starts off his speech with a powerful message, “Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro Slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.” His use of historical context and the use of a technique known as ethos would help draw in his audience and intrigue them to listen. By utilizing historical context, such as the Emancipation Proclamation, Gettysburg Address, the Constitution, and Declaration of Independence, Dr. King was able to embrace every aspect of what his speech was about. Dr. King states, “When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the ‘unalienable rights’ of ‘Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” Further, with the appropriate allusions, context and quotations Dr. King was able to gain lots of credibility with his speech. Thus, allowing his audience to gain his trust.
Martin Luther king uses ethos in many cases in his remarkable speech “I Have a Dream”. He uses ethos in his speech to connect with his audience and persuade them that they are fighting with other famous Americans. Such as famous fathers and Abraham Lincoln. Martin Luther king’s approach is very smart because he knows the American people trust famous people so using them as examples they will be on Martin Luther King’s side.
Martin Luther King uses rhetorical appeals to promote his message of equality. “Five score years ago, a great American whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation.” (paragraph 2) Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation which created a sign of hope for African-American slaves. Martin Luther King uses Ethos to show the credibility of his speech and he
More than 40 years ago, in August 1963, Martin Luther King electrified America with his momentous ‘I Have A Dream’ speech, dramatically delivered from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
Martin Luther King uses ethos in his “I Have a Dream” speech many different times to show credibility and make different points and reasons to contribute to his message. One example of this ethos would be when he made a statement about his children. “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the
The speeches use of diction which both a logical and emotional appeal to the audience. The main people involved in this speech are the Africans living in America. King starts out his speech with the phrase “the greatest demonstration of freedom”. At this point the speech is already appealing
Different speakers utilize different strategies to get across their ideas. In Martin Luther King Jr, “I have a dream” speech he used the persuasive technique ethos most throughout the entire speech. Ethos speaks on a person's beliefs, values, and ethics. In king's speech he on his beliefs on how everyone in America should be united not separate. This part from his speech was an ethos example, “It is obvious today that America defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned”.
King applies the rhetorical devices throughout his speech. King creates ethos, the rhetorical appeal that creates trust, leaders, and authority, in several instances. An example of one is when he alludes to Lincoln, ” Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation, ” the crowd instantly remembers Lincoln freed the
King wrote one of the most influential speeches ever, and to be able to see if it was effective, an analytical tool could be used called The Rhetorical Triangle which helps the identify the speaker, the audience, and the subject in the speech. The speaker in “I have a dream” is Martin Luther King, Jr. The audience of the speech would be anyone during that time period who believed in the idea of cultures mixing. And the purpose of the speech was to encourage hope in people. He wished to unite white people and black people in peace
King stated that all men are created equal despite their race or color. B. Thesis 3. He persuaded his followers of this by using the rhetorical appeal Ethos. He created Ethos in his speech by employing allusion, parallelism, and anaphora. II.
King uses ethos by including pieces of legislation in his speech, such as the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. He uses pathos by referring to his personal struggles as an African American. He also involves children in the speech to
Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” was a very inspiring and influential speech in American history and a stand for equal rights. His speech confronted racism in America. This was a remarkable moment in history for equal rights which is remembered to this day. “When all of God’s children, black men, and white men, Jews, and Gentiles, Protestants, and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing,” “Free at last! Free at last!)”
First, Dr. King uses the element of ethos. He uses ethos to gain credibility in his audience’s eyes. Allusions are a big thing that Dr. King uses in his speech. By alluding to famous works, Dr. King creates a sense of credibility.
The marvelous use of ethos in this speech really brought out the problems that the blacks were faced with. The documents, government, and granted rights, said one thing but were they really meant for all? Even after the Emancipation Proclamation, Constitution, and Declaration of Independence, “the Negro still is not free”(“ American Rhetoric: Martin Luther King I Have a Dream”). All of these documents and promises made by the government about “freedom for all” wasn’t completely true because the blacks were given the same promise. They still had to sit in the back of the bus, and use different bathrooms, and go to segregated schools. King confronted the government about these unfair “rules” they produced by “ coming to cash this check”(“ American Rhetoric: Martin Luther King I Have a Dream”), meaning they have come to receive the promises they were given. The check was to give them “the riches of freedom” and “the security of justice“(“ American Rhetoric: Martin Luther King I Have a Dream”). He backs up his ethics by describing the real life actions he faced during the racist times like, physical violence and abusive