Rhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech - 1198 Words

The, â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech given by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is arguably the most emotionally moving and persuasive speech of all time. But, to understand the speech one must first understand the context. At this time, the slave era was far gone but, not forgotten. Negro men and women were still experiencing segregation in the 1960’s. There was negro bathrooms, negro schools, negro water fountains, and even negro restaurants. Martin Luther King Jr. was an influential black man who took on the fight for equality. King presents his speech to a crowded Lincoln memorial — the same Lincoln who delivered the Emancipation Proclamation which freed enslaved Negros in the south nearly a hundred years before. King’s speech, later known as the, â€Å"I†¦show more content†¦Why has nothing improved? We as humans are always improving, so when King points out this fact it is an immediate red flag. Logos is used throughout the message to persuade the au dience as well as establish credibility to the speaker. Ethos is the second point of the rhetorical triangle. Ethos is the credibility of the speaker or the persuasion that a speaker is credible. Ethos is essential to the message of the speech because if a speech is not credible then how can any of the points be perceived as true. King establishes himself as credible by including facts that were commonly known as true. For example, the Negro was not free and everyone was aware of the prejudice. By saying these commonly held facts King establishes himself as a reliable source. The last and most prominent aspect of the rhetorical triangle is pathos. Pathos is the use of emotion in trying to persuade an audience. Pathos is in the words, in the delivery, and also in the situation. King’s speech to Washington D.C. that day sparked a flame of emotion that fueled the walk on Washington for black rights. Dr. King used many key, emotional, words and phrases to help persuade his audien ce. In line four, the very beginning of his speech, he begins with five score years ago. Curiously that sounds incredibly close to the address given by President Lincoln. The same man who set the negro slaves free. He uses this famous line to get people thinking about the current situation comparedShow MoreRelatedRhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech924 Words   |  4 Pagesis his â€Å"I have a dream† speech. The reason â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech made massive impacts, is due to It struck directly into the hearts of Americans both black and white making America realize just what is really going on in this world. King informed people about racial equality and fairness. This speech hit home so well just by the way he structured his speech. You can notice that MLK structures his speech to appeal to the different types of audience, supporting it with the three rhetorical modes;Read MoreRhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech752 Words   |  4 Pages28, 1963 At the Lincoln Commemoration 200,000 individuals accumulated after the Walk on Washington. This is the place Dr. Martin Luther conveyed his discourse I Have a Dream to America. He talked about the treacheries of isolation and separation of African Americans that was occurring in our country. In his first explanation he stated, 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. In this announcement heRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech1058 Words   |  5 PagesMartin Luther King Jr’s â€Å"I have a Dream† demonstrates the combination of the rhetorical appeals to support his argument for equality and social justice because he draws attention to the past history of America’s Injustice and oppression towards black Americans. One of the explanations that the I Have a Dream address by Martin Luther King Jr. is memorable is that it contains a superb balance of Ari stotles 3 rhetorical appeals: attribute, pathos, and logos. Ethos is associate charm to authorityRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech1061 Words   |  5 Pagesleader in the Civil Rights Movement. He is widely known for his speech that took place on 28 August 1963, â€Å"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 audiences support. He applied many rhetorical devices to his speech to connect with the audience’s emotions, and to logicallyRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech900 Words   |  4 PagesThe speaker of this essay that I will be writing about is Martin Luther King Jr. He was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia at his family house. He was an American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the Civil Ri ghts Movement. Martin Luther King Jr. was a great American, worked for civil rights in the United States in the 1950s and 60s. He became so popular and well liked that he was hated just as intensely by those who disagreed with theRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech865 Words   |  4 Pagesin 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 â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech addresses the grueling topicRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech768 Words   |  4 PagesBrandon Lim CU English 9/29/17 P:2 Using a variety of rhetorical devices, Martin Luther King Jr’s purpose of his â€Å"I Have A Dream Speech† takes a huge step for black americans by voicing the opinions of the people in a civil, non violent manner. He’s a role model for future activists to present the point clearly without hostility or anger, but with a firm tone and many of rhetorical devices. Dr. King gives the speech to help his cause of nonviolent activism against segregation and in favor of civilRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech901 Words   |  4 PagesOne of the most acknowledged Civil Rights activists in this history of the United States, Martin Luther King, in his empowering speech, â€Å"I Have a Dream,† proposed his desire for racial equality across the globe in a strong-minded manner. King’s purpose for both writing and orally publishing this speech at the March on Washington affair was to motivate his audience into demanding racial justice and an amalgamated society for all people. He acquired a shameful but dedicated tone as he described theRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech1018 Words   |  5 PagesI Have a Dream by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Cruelty, inequality, death, sorrow, misery. All words to be associated with the hardships Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. passionately describes in his I Have A Dream speech. King, an activist and civil rights leader gave an empowering speech on August 28, 1963 in Washington D.C. Millions of hearts were touched and inspired to fight for their rights(â€Å"American Rhetoric: Martin Luther King Jr.†). This speech is aimed towards every race in a different specificRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech1002 Words   |  5 PagesA Dream Come True Picture yourself living in a society where people are judged and hated upon because of the pigment of their skin, terrible right? Enslaved, criticized, and alienated because there were â€Å"different† from everyone else. Even when granted freedom, colored men and women were still treated as if they were peasants to America. Martin Luther King Jr’s speech had the power to motivate this broken society to end their racist ways. After being lied to for many of years about being â€Å"free†,