Rhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech

Martin Luther King Jr., an American Baptist minister and a Civil Rights activist, became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the Civil Rights Movement. He is widely known for his speech that took place on 28 August 1963, “I Have a Dream.” This speech aimed toward the entire nation. King’s main purpose in this speech was to convince his audience to demand racial justice and for them all to stand up together for their rights. In this speech, King uses emotional and logical appeal to gain the audience's support. He applied many rhetorical devices to his speech to connect with the audience’s emotions, and to logically support his arguments.

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.

The I Have a Dream Speech is the most iconic speech that came from this era. King talked about how this condition they are in is shameful, something people should be embarrassed of. He referenced to the Emancipation Proclamation and the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal”. He also mentioned that it is not only all in the hands of black people, but white as well. There was a sense of unity in this speech (I Have a Dream).

King uses various examples in history on how many colored people throughout history have done amazing attributions to America that not many non-colored Americans can have the honor to say that they have done something amazing .Kings examples, include how colored Americans were at Valley Forge with George Washington , how the first person to die in the revoltion was a colored man, and how one member who designed the capital of Washington D.C. was colored. All have in common the fact that they were all Black Americans but the most important thing is that these contributions are the most patriotism anyone has done for the United States of America. Martin Luther King states, "Negroes had done more than their share." It helps the audience by explaining to them that colored people have done many things to create a great nation. it moves the audience by describing how colored people have done so much for the country yet have not been recognized for their air share of making a great

On August 28th, 1963, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr stood on the steps in front of the Lincoln Memorial and delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. He spoke passionately for 17 minutes on his views about human equality for African Americans at one of the largest civil rights demonstrations in history. King played a major role in ending the segregation for African Americans. His rhetorical language left an impact on America. Through his use of appeals like ethos, logos, pathos, and other rhetorical techniques. He influenced Americans to believe in the notion that all men are created equal.

While what King refers to throughout his speech creates an emotion that spreads through the crowd, he realized the power of words and their effect on people. He uses “horror,” “distrust,” and “brutality,” to represent what their past and present consisted of. “Glory,” “hope,” and “dream,” are used in his speech to show what their future would be like after that day. King starts of the speech retelling why the audience is there, fighting for their rights, and

In the beginning of his speech, king uses ethos when he stated “Five score years ago a great American in whose symbolic shadow we stand today signed the Emancipation Proclamation.” (King) He is referring to Lincoln, which helped bring authority in his speech. By bring up Lincoln in his speech it also helped him boost power with the civil rights act since Lincoln helped America out during the civil war.

On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, presented one of the most rhetorically inspiring speeches ever delivered. I Have a Dream was delivered to thousands of Americans at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. The purpose of his speech was to persuade his audience to strive for equality and freedom for those suffering from racial segregation. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech was one of the most influential during the Civil Rights Movement and is recognized as a masterpiece through his use of ethos, pathos, and logos. One rhetorical persuasion that makes Dr. King’s speech captivating is used in the opening of his speech by conveying the use of ethos.

When Martin Luther King stopped racism he allowed other kids and adults on the different race to join together and be friends. So now we can even go to the same school, same store, same house. We can do whatever we want with the different race all thanks to Dr. Martin Luther King jr. there is no such thing as black schools and white schools anymore. We can now drink from the same water fountain. We can now eat at the same restaurant.

In a related string of events, the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s failed to bring about solutions to the problem of racial inequality plaguing America. Not until the death of one of its most prominent leaders, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., did the Civil Rights Movement transform from a movement for racial equality to a movement for racial privilege. King, in his speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, makes clear the ideal of racial equality: “I have a dream… that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” After King’s assassination, new leaders arose claiming that it is not enough that blacks and whites are treated equally, but that, in order for deliverance from their troubled past, they must be given preference over those who

In Martin Luther King Jr’s speech he fights for the rights of African Americans and establishes a hopeful tone for the future. He states, “But we refuse to believe

Whether be a white man or a black man, King calmly spoke through the crowd calmly to achieve their inner voice of courage to stand up against prejudice in America. King very effectively persuaded the audience through his rhetoric device of figurative language, extended metaphor, and anaphora. The speech was mostly famous because of King’s passionate dream and the fight of justice. He spoke with confidence and the strength over the citizens fighting for their rights and freedom against partiality spread in America. His only message to his followers was to stop segregation and discrimination against colored people. According to the Constitution, King mentions that they are all equally created and they should enforce to follow the legal laws that were made a century ago. Although, his only main purpose was to abolish segregation he was made the leadership of the civil rights movement which accurately evoked emotions among the citizens of the America. The unshakeable confidence of Martin Luther King Jr managed to provoke the audience to feel sympathy while providing everyone hope especially to civil rights activist that everything will change for the better in

“I have a dream that one day all men are created equal.” Arguably the most powerful quote said by the most powerful men at the most powerful of speeches known as the “I Have a Dream Speech” during the African American Civil Rights Movement. So, it does require deep analyzation to fully grasp the piece and the author as whole. Analyzing the style of the author as a writer and a speaker, the audience and the rhetorical themes will help you to fully grasp the piece and the author. The author his name, Martin Luther King. Martin Luther King is an astonishing speaker. He is also a great writer too. Martin Luther King’s speech changed the landscape of civil rights immediately and for years to come. Since there is the speech itself and a written piece I will be analyzing a mix of both from the speech and the written peace.

King envisaged the following developments in America for a better future for the Negroes. He felt that all men were

Throughout the “I Have a Dream” speech, King utilizes allusion, metaphor, and anaphora to create a tone of assertiveness that conveys his intent as