During the 20th century, the oppression and segregation of black individuals in the United States was very common and people. “The Southern states kept African Americans separated from whites in almost all facets of life. In some cases, the disparities were appalling.” (David)This was clearly an infringement of human rights some of the founding founders of the United States. This was due to the fact that most of the African American citizens in the United States had ancestral roots that were mostly slaves and as a result, they were considered not fit to share the same privileges as the White Citizens. With this uprising, it was common to see formulation of protest groups and Human right activist who stood up to fight for the justice and equality …show more content…
Abraham Lincoln, signed the Emancipation proclamation that saw the end to slavery. King did this because he was trying to let the oppressed know that they were not alone in the struggle as powerful men had also fought alongside from the beginning. In doing this, he was trying to capture the attention of the white citizens, in order to make them realize their mistake as they have lost their roots and are no longer following the footsteps and damaging the legacy of the men who built America 5 score years ago. According to a survey in 2007 by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life, “the African-American population are found to be more religious than the U.S. population as a whole with 87% affiliated to a religion, and 79% saying that "religion is very important in their life"(Wikipedia) This is why King also adopted the use of the word “God” frequently to entice his audience, this was because religion played a very important role in the lives of people and the decisions they take. So, it helped in getting the attention of the white Citizens who believed in God making them realize that their actions are contrary to the wishes of God on how people should treat one another, which may perhaps change their attitude toward African …show more content…
This strategy helps change the perspective of others to see that the African American Society is never about violence as they were only trying to fight for their rights. As “The Power of Nonviolence, taught a generation about the “moral ju-jitsu” of nonviolence. It was, he said, a force powerful enough to defeat the oppressor without needing to land a physical blow.”(Harvey). This is very similar approach Mahatma Gandhi adopted while the Indians were under oppression by the British rule, where he encouraged people not to retaliate against the authority, but rather should submit themselves so the authorities will realize who is being barbaric. The strategy was very
In paragraphs 12-14 King uses a combination of rhetorical strategies to argue the urgency for changing current segregation laws. Kings selective use of imagery, parallel structure, and metaphors helps bring out the emotions of the eight clergymen, making them feel sympathy and understand Martin Luther King Jr.s point of view.
Martin Luther King Junior is often known as the leader of African American civil rights in the United States. His infamous “I Have a Dream” speech brought a crowd of over two hundred and fifty thousand people to the steps and lake of the Lincoln Monument in Washington D.C. In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. led a protest in Birmingham, Alabama that focused on the unfair treatment and the segregation of African Americans. The court ruled that he was not allowed to hold protests. Therefore, he was arrested and placed in Birmingham Jail. While inside his solitary confinement cell, he wrote a letter and had it sent out through his lawyer. This letter was addressed to the clergymen of Birmingham but he knew that everybody would be reading it.
“Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation… But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free...the Negro is sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chain of discrimination,“ (King 261). During the civil rights movement Martin Luther King, Jr. had a speech about how they were treated and does not have much right like others, even they were supposed to be free long ago. During the 1960s, the group of people was treated poorly than another group of people. People who are treated unwantedly wanted a right, freedom, and change in society. Like what Martin Luther King told his audiences they were supposed to have the same
Civil rights activist, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his memorable “I Have a Dream” speech while standing at the feet of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. His uplifting speech is one of the most admired during the civil rights era and arguably one of the best in American history. On August 28th, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke about the true American dream: equality. Although the video of his oral spectacle is powerful, the written document portrays exactly how brilliant Martin Luther King Jr. really was. Like an Architect who uses his stones to build strong palaces, Martin Luther King Jr. uses every word, every sentence, and every paragraph purposely to convey the necessity of a civil rights
Many authors use rhetorical devices and strategies to get their point across and try to convince the reader to believe in their perspective. It can also be used to get emotions from its readers, but that isn’t really the whole point of persuading someone. For instance, Martin Luther King Jr. uses an abundance of pathos in order to make the reader or clergymen feel sympathy towards the black people. Along with pathos, he uses logos and a bundle of hypophora. In order to obtain the goal of persuasion, Martin Luther King Jr.’s letter contains rhetorical devices.
On April 28, 1963 over 200,00 Americans gathered at the Washington monument to protest cruelty that was being spread among our country. On that day, one of the most famous speeches of all American history was delivered. From that speech, America experienced a change that has brought us to where we are today. In the famous, “I have a dream” speech proclaimed by Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., many types of rhetoric was utilized to try and stop the racial inequality that was occurring within our country at the time.
It's the 1960's; American society is being torn asunder by civil unrest involving the struggle for equality at home and an inhumane war in Vietnam. In the midst of such turbulence, Martin Luther King Junior argues that American involvement in the war in Vietnam is unjust. He poignantly examines the thesis using appeals to ethos logos and pathos.
“Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation.” -MLK. He adverted to the Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln's declaration to liberate black slaves in America. He then quotes from the Declaration's claim of "the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." With several references to biblical passages, Christian verses, and God, King develops his credibility by including generally held religious beliefs into his speech.
"What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence or lawlessness, but love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice towards those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or whether they be black."1
On April 3rd, 1968 in Memphis,Tennessee at the Mason Temple many protesters came together to hear Martin Luther King Jr’s speech. His purpose was to get his point across, blacks should have their freedom like any other white man or woman. Martin Luther King Jr. went on to say how happy he is to be living in this time period, able to see the period of life unfold. His purpose was to raise awareness that, something is happening in the world,things are going to start changing. Martin Luther King Jr’s use of ethos and pathos is successful in showing that the world is changing in many ways. Most of all he uses logos or logic very well, giving us the info on how, people are starting to rise up in masses and make small cities bigger like New York City, Atlanta, Georgia and many other cities.
During the mid 20th century, citizens all over America were fighting for their rights, especially including women and those of color. This period marked the beginning of a long road of reconciliation and reconstruction, but now citizens have been able to cross the finish line in establishing equal rights for all of the United States citizens. Over time, American’s former issues regarding the civil liberties of citizens have slowly resolved such as the rights of equality for citizens of color, the repercussions of citizens voicing their opinions, and acquiring rights for women.
Martin Luther King, Jr had been a strong leader in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s and fought hard to bring an end to the Negro’s struggle to fight oppression and gain equality. When he was arrested and jailed in Birmingham, Alabama he then fell under criticism by white clergy for coming to Birmingham as an “outsider” to cause trouble and increase tension through public sit-ins and marches. I feel that Martin Luther King was able to both set aside that criticism by establishing his credibility to have not only been invited to come to Birmingham to help end the injustice to the Negro people via peaceful means, but he was able to identify moral, legal and ethical cause to promote his quest to put a stop to what he identified as “the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States.” I will provide a summary that will show what Martin Luther King believed were the cause of the injustice that he was striving to end to as well as his concern over the white community’s ability to make the Negro “wait for more than three hundred and forty years for our constitutional and God-given rights.”
Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a letter to his fellow brothers and sisters in hopes of rekindling their faith and giving them a vision of a more prosperous future. He spoke of the way he and his brothers and sisters were treated. The text tries to communicate a form of equality and tranquility by combining religion and ethics to persuade the clergymen to grant them freedom. Martin Luther King uses many metaphors to symbolize the tragic events his people have gone through. Near the end of the text, he finished his piece by being sympathetic towards the clergymen expecting freedom after
still have a dream.” Using ethos helped demonstrate his credibility by showing that he can relate to Negros and that he too has personally experienced racial inequality.
On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr delivered one of the most influential speeches in American history. America was in the thick of the Civil Rights Movement, and Martin Luther King Jr desperately wanted to mend the deep tear in our country. King stood on the Lincoln memorial, and impacted the nation with his words. King spoke about the injustices of segregation and discrimination of African Americans that was taking place in the United States at that time. In his first statement King wrote, “I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.” King was determined to unite as one, and cure our country of racial injustice through this speech, and