Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther's Speech

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 Jr. gave arguably one of his most influential speeches on 3 April, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. This would be the last speech he would give to the American people before he was killed shortly after. The speech addresses the unfair treatment of African Americans and how they should respond to it. He talks about how he wants people to peacefully join together in full force in order to fight for equal rights. King talks about all of the successes the Civil Rights Movement has had so far and what his hopes are for future success. He explains all of the events he is thankful he had the opportunity to experience. It acts almost as a goodbye to all of his supporters and a reassurance that everything will be okay no matter what happens in the future. Throughout the speech he appears very confident that the Civil Rights Movement will have the success that he has intended. The speech was, in many ways, unique due to the fact that it seemed as though Martin Luther King Jr. knew that it would be on of his last speeches he would have the ability of making. It Throughout the speech, King uses ethos, pathos, and logos in order to effectively get his point out to his listeners.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech is one of the most successful and most legendary speeches in United States history. Martin Luther King Jr. was a masterful speaker, who established a strong command of rhetorical strategies. By his eloquent use of ethos, logos, and pathos, as well as his command of presentation skills and rhetorical devices, King was able to persuade his generation that "the Negro is not free" (King 1). His speech became the rallying cry for civil rights and lives on as an everlasting masterpiece.

“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

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.

Martin Luther King Jr. wrote numerous speeches in efforts to inspire the idea of non-violent protesting in hopes of eventually reaching racial equality. Under what conditions can a man with seemingly no connection to a local community step in and assume the mantle of leadership as a spokesman for a segment of that community’s population? In all of the speeches, one way or another, Dr. King used several different rhetorical devices in order to defend his own actions. In specific, two of his speeches, “I have a Dream” and “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” Dr. King used the rhetorical devices of anaphora, allusion, and diction to relay his thoughts of what is right, and also as a way to build a common ground with his audience. Though the rhetorical devices are shared between the two speeches, there are also several differences. The main difference between the two speeches is that in “I have a Dream” Dr. King is vocalizing his own ideas for what could become of the United States of America. In “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” Dr. King is responding to the clergymen’s letter regarding his braking of the law. The rhetorical devices as well as the speeches are similar, while the audience is the factor that changes the premise.

In the most paramount time of racism in America, there a voice that enacted a call for change. Martin Luther King was a Baptist minister and social activist who spent countless years, fighting for a civil rights. It was on the date of August 28th, 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln memorial is where King made his leap of faith and spoke out on the injustice of African Americans. His dream for African Americans to be equal, appealed to the emotions of his audience. The desire to live a civil life and not be oppressed was felt by many. Martin Luther King delivered a speech that would immensely make an impact on the country.

Martin Luther King Jr. uses rhetorical devices “out the wazoo” throughout his letter directed specifically at his fellow clergymen (or fellow ministers and christian leaders), otherwise known as his peers. He seems to stress many different inequities over history, specifically occurrences with the African American community. Narrowing down and focusing in on paragraph's 13-14, we can analyze his specific usage of rhetoric that justifies his argument on the timeliness and reasoning for changing the inequitable laws of segregation. King’s major usage of ethos, and especially pathos, really “hits home” in its goal to disarm the the claims opposing King’s statement, “justice too long delayed is justice denied.” This quote defines King’s goal so well to me because it clearly defines the problem as well as solution which consists of a timely journey into the seemingly unreachable depths of freedom and equality. The problem lying in the delayed justification that the laws of segregation that must be revised so that the brotherhood of the American heart may be reunited once and for all.

"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

While sitting in a jail cell, Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. uses this time of reflection to write a letter to the 7 white church leaders in the south in rebuttal to their recent criticisms of the Civil Rights Movement. The letter comes after the recent protest in Birmingham, and the criticisms of his work form the Southern leaders. King crafts his argument in a cause and effect style to illustrate the direct problems or criticisms, and refutes these claims with substantial support in favor of his movement. He builds his persuasive argument through ethos and logos, to present the validity of the cause, and then he calls for reflection from the church leaders. While his tone does not stroke any of the leader’s ego, he appeals to their

Missionary and Professor Charles Porter vocalizes a profound point during a lecture, “The only person who justifies us is Jesus.” This speaks measures regarding the Church and their responsibility to uphold justice. As people who claim to follow Jesus, the Church should be leading the charge against injustice. However, in the past century it failed to act upon the injustice of segregation. Analyzing Letter from Birmingham Jail, it becomes clear that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave voice to this issue in twentieth century American Christianity. By using the three appeals of ethos, pathos, and logos, Dr. King effectively argues that the Church chose complacency regarding the injustice of

After being criticized about his presence in Birmingham by white clergy in a letter published in the Birmingham newspaper, Martin Luther King sets out to not only establish why he is in Birmingham, but also to establish moral, legal and ethical cause to his platform of the peaceful protests that he has been promoted and participated in that lead to his arrest and why he is in jail. Martin Luther King establishes early on his credibility as the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and that he was in Birmingham due to an invitation as a result of organizational ties as well as a personal reason for being there due to a great injustice that prevails in Birmingham. Mr. King uses the Artistic proofs of Ethos, Logos and Pathos to establish his credibility and persuade or convince his audience in his platform.

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.

That author purpose is to persuade the people that all men are equal and deserve freedom so that a change needs to in our nation. It is for that reason that the “ I have a Dream”by Martin Luther king jr. is going to be used because he uses detail, figurative language, and reason why the negro deserve rights too. Mlk jr shows that people yes all people deserve rights. The paragraphs that you will you read will show and tell how he change the way people look at negro people.

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 relentlessness. King was able to inspire the nation with his words. In his speech, King masterfully includes uses of an ethical standpoint, an emotional connection, and a logical approach to prove that racism was not the intended basis of the United States.