Rhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his speech at the “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.” He used a metaphor to give a more vivid description of how the emancipation Proclamation impacted the lives of African Americans. He said “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 justice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity.” (209)The statement “A joyous day break to end the long night of captivity” (209) is referring to the emancipation proclamation. The long night that King is referring to would be the many years that African-Americans were enslaved. King uses the rhetorical device of pathos to bring about emotion to the nation. He gives the image of oppressed beaten down slaves that have overcome slavery only to be denied their human rights once more. This was a very powerful opening marker for King because it sets the tone for the exact purpose of why he is delivering the speech. Another metaphor within the speech is when Kings says “It is obvious that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check; a check which has come back marked ‘insufficient funds’.” (209)This dynamic metaphor paints a realistic picture for Americans explaining how people of color are not being granted their equal

100 years after the delivery of the Emancipation Proclamation delivered by President Abraham Lincoln, a young man by the name of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. also known as the father of the modern civil rights movement, would stand on stage in Washington D.C. and deliver a speech to over 250,000 people known as the “I Have a Dream” speech. Arguably, one of the most memorable speeches of all time, Dr. King would raise the issues of social injustice, police brutality, and racial segregation. Hoping to one day see equality, unity, and equity prevail in the United States. As promised by our forefathers, all Americans would have unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Dr. King would resonate this message in hopes that all would hear and that things would change for the better.

In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered one of the most influential speeches in history. Throughout his speech, King employs many rhetorical devices that further his appeal for civil rights. King establishes his credibility as soon as he steps to the podium. King, an American civil rights activist and leader, was already known by the American people for his leadership throughout the civil rights movement. His leadership role as a civil rights activist asserts his message as credible and true to the American people. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech addresses the grueling topic of racism in what will go down in history as “the greatest demonstration for freedom” and one of the most influential movements toward an end to institutionalized

This speech, written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. titled, “I Have a Dream,” was addressed to an audience of hundreds of thousands of people at the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963, in Washington D.C. It was intended to motivate his audience to believe in his cause of unity amongst all of mankind. His speech teaches that people all around the world are created equal. Martin Luther King Jr. uses various literary features throughout his speech in order to establish the unification of people of any background or skin color, and to encourage his audience to accomplish this goal.

Near the end of Martin Luther King’s speech a gospel singer Mahalia Jackson shouted to Dr. King saying, “Tell them about the dream, Martin”. At this point Dr. King stopped reading the speech and expressed his inner feelings saying “I have a dream..”(Mlk, 4). He continued to tell the crowd of his dream for the Negros to be free and equal and that they would be able to live happily and do as they pleased. He had a dream that America would live out the meaning of the constitution stating “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal”. He tells the crowd that at the end “We are free at last”. Dr. King’s choice of words and the tone in which he delivers his speech is enticing and pleasing to the crowd of America.

Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech was written and delivered on August 28, 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and remains one of the most historically influential and world-changing speeches of all time. Fifty-two years later, this speech is considered to be one of the best persuasive speeches ever delivered. Dr. King is not only attempting to persuade his audience to understand the plight of minorities in the United States, but he is also attempting to encourage a nation to change for the betterment of mankind. Through the effective use of several literary elements, Dr. Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech prompted Caucasian Americans to look closer at the country 's dismal record of civil rights for black Americans and other minorities.

I have a dream that one day everyone will understand what Martin Luther King Jr said in his infamous speech on August 28, 1963, and recognize the power and beauty in his words. In the “I Have a Dream” speech, Martin Luther King, Jr. persuades the citizens of the United States that they should no longer accept segregation, and all men should be created equal, as our Constitution states. In this fight though, we can not use violence, but use the power of words, and not stop until every human being is free. This speech was given in a time where black people were made to think that they were equal with white people, when in actuality, they were “separate but equal” which is not the same thing. This is when called segregation flourished and eventually, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had enough of this injustice and he spoke out to the citizens of the United States and the world to fight for freedom. This speech used all of the rhetorical devices: ethos, logos, and pathos, and it used such powerful, discrete language that not only persuaded the reader, but entertained them, drawing in his audience after every word. Its rhythm made it stay with people, haunting them. He truly made it clear of the awful ways the African American people were being treated, connecting to them, making them feel something, making the reader want to listen to him and follow King with every step he took.

    The speech opens up with a very strong use of diction that creates a logical and emotional appeal on the audience. At this point, the speech already created an appeal of pathos. He then goes onto create a very logical appeal when stating that the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 gave “hope to millions of Negro slave who had seared in the flames of withering injustice.” The Emancipation Proclamation was the first event where African Americans were increasing up the ladder of social hierarchy. Dr. King uses anaphora, the repetition of a word, to create and appeal of emotion and logic. He describes that it has been one hundred years after the Emancipation Proclamation but still “the life of the Negro is still badly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination”,” the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast

The speech “I Have a Dream,” written and spoken by Martin Luther King Jr., is intended for the Black population and racist individuals. He was an activist who became a well-known leader of the Civil Rights Movement. It was delivered on August 28, 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. This speech about equality for Black people consists of dreams, freedom, satisfaction, and justice. By using anaphoras, allusions and metaphors, King persuades the United States to strive and fight for the privileges that Black people deserve.

“I have a dream” is a renowned speech given by the late Martin Luther King Jr at the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 during the “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom”, in front of a large audience of about 250000 people. In his speech, King speaks in favor of the Negro rights and appeals for a change in the situation of racial discrimination and poverty that people of color faced back in those days. With his moving and impactful words, King speaks for the Negros who faced injustice and still lived difficult lives in the chains of poverty and discrimination despite the official liberation of America by Abraham Lincoln, hundreds of years ago.

King begins his speech by acknowledging that the Emancipation Proclamation was “a great beacon light of hope” (King para. 2) for the slaves, but recently Americans have ignored Abraham Lincoln’s words. King accentuates the injustices that African Americans have experienced since the time of the Emancipation Proclamation by using anaphora to repeat the phrase “one hundred years later” (King para. 3). By alluding to the Emancipation Proclamation and demonstrating the stark differences between Lincoln’s words one hundred years ago and the way society treated African Americans in the mid 1900s, King implies that the American people are being hypocritical in their actions. This may inspire the audience to demand societal change and equality between whites and blacks.

Racism against African Americans became a major issue during the mid -20th century. Blacks became tired of the mistreatment they had to face every day, which is why multiple civil rights activists and groups were created in order to change the system. One of these activists, or should I say extremist, was known as the most noble after presenting his 17 minute speech “I Have a Dream,” given in 1963. He begins his speech painting a passionate picture of racial injustice. He talks about his dream that included the opportunity for whites and blacks to work in harmony, for the most racist states to become places of peace, and for his children to live in a nation of love and collaboration. He cannot wait for the day where his people can work, pray, and struggle together, where legitimate unity would be established. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech made a massive impact due to how he reflects the conditions of that time and how well he illustrates the brighter future that is soon to come.

On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr delivered one of the most moving speeches in American history. His powerful oration was characterized by bold statements that provoked deep thought and recollection among members of his audience and the nation as a whole. In his “I Have a Dream” speech, Dr. King employs anaphora, allusions and strong metaphors and imagery to address the issue of racial injustice and mobilize the people towards a common cause.

In Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech, I Have A Dream, King explores freedom, equality of all people, and racial injustice. Throughout the speech, it is discovered that King is a significant advocate for freedom of african americans. King recognizes that discrimination is very unjust, and encourages equality for the future of America. King calls for an end to racism in the United States in this powerful speech that was delivered during the “March on washington.” Although times were hard for himself and other african americans, his motivational speech and activism played a huge role in the creation of the civil rights act of 1964. King uses literary devices such as metaphors, repetition, and to allusion to emphasize the importance of his ideas about racial injustices.

To dream is to envision a more purposeful future, to conceive an image of a better home, life or world. For many, it is far beyond what the mind can comprehend. Like for example, when a mother is pregnant, for 9 months she dreams of this perfect human being growing inside of her. When that new born is delivered, that vision becomes a reality that she could have never prepared herself for. On August 28, 1963, American civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr., took the stage in Washington D.C. in front of law makers, policy makers, both white and black people, narrated a talk of a dream in hopes to inspire discussion, demanded the audience to accept culture change and provided a calling for non-violent yet effective end to racism in the United States, as he spoke what would be a history making speech of “I Have a Dream.”