“I have a Dream”

On August 28, one of the most powerful speeches was given by Martin Luther King Jr.During the mid-20th Century, racism was a huge issue in the United States, which the most prominent was the racism of African-Americans. Although all blacks were supposed to be free, under a corrupt law system, blacks were victimized mercilessly. Therefore, blacks decided to try and change the system and multiple civil rights activists and groups appeared. Throughout the 1960s, King engaged in various civil rights boycotts and protests, helping to further the movement and gaining its eventual victory.Out of all of his civil rights-related efforts, he gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in our nation’s capital, Washington D.C. The speech was given in front of the Lincoln Memorial and is known by many as one of the most influential speeches on freedom and the equality of Americans, regardless of their race. 200,000 people gathered to hear Dr. King talk about the segregation and discrimination against African Americans in our nation at that time. In his speech He used pathos such as using the bible to get emotional reactions, with logos he gave real life situations as examples, and ethos he used what people thought and knew about Abraham Lincoln. This were just a few examples of what he said in his speech. King bought to the attention of the American people that our country was founded upon freedom and as a democracy we have the right to change laws and institute new laws if it will benefit society as a whole.

Dr. King use of pathos is incredible he strikes emotional values of both black and white when he makes the point that he is a father that wants a better future for his children. “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judge by the color of their skin but the content of their character.” This is allowing the listener to relate to him as a father and the aspirations we hold for our children. It provides a human appeal and uses of pathos.

Dr. King uses the bible to receive an emotional reaction and connection from the audience as “the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.” This instills the belief that all people will stand together that god does not judge the skin color of people He also uses it to provide a belief and faith in what he is saying is truth. So why should we judged? Because back in the 1960 white people still saw color skin people as slaves and not as equal as them. That’s why most people were like that. Still today racism exist it not as big as back them but still is there. Dr. King uses a number of metaphors thought his speech is keeps his audience engaged in his fight for freedom he states “And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, i still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.” He uses the American dream to appeal to all Americans. He is saying that his dream is part of the American dream that we all deserve to have the freedom to dream. He also refers a “Check” in which the Americans people should cash which receives a great roaring reaction from the crowd. Dr. King is referring to the Emancipation Proclamation as a “Check” which was written to the American people that should be ‘cashed” or executed.

He also uses Logos in his analogies. When he states “America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked “ insufficient funds.” His analogy is using logic as a form of reasoning. He reasons is that everyone understands money and that the listener is able to relate to being handed a bad check . He also uses examples from his real life situation The audience was able to relate to what Dr. King was saying Dr. King appealed to the values beliefs of his audience by basically stating that America is not equal and that Negros should not be satisfied with the way they were treated at the time. Like in the quotes “the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality..””out children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of the dignity by signs stating:”For Whites Only.”and ”a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote.” this is what the audience had experienced themselves and this is how Dr. King drew their attention and applause. All of these were example of the racism that was going on and how color people treated on a regular basis

As he delivered his speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial he analogizes Lincoln in his speech “five score years ago,a great American in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the emancipation proclamation.” His use of Lincoln brought authority into the speech. Lincoln was a powerful and great president who empowered the American people throughout the civil right. He gained the trust of America and established a new sense of freedom Dr. King’s use of what people thought and knew about Abraham Lincoln to influence his audience. Martin Luther King is invoking the authority of Lincoln and his views on civil rights. This is providing a strong ethos apparel and stablishing credibility with his audience. He also quotes,”unalienable rights” of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” He is stating that the American government has broken its word to the American people has neglected on the obligation to ALL of the American people.. That they were not been treated as equal humans beings. His use of this quote is to use a supreme authority as being on his side. Dr. King is using his own credibility and reputation as an American citizen who was effected by the actions of the government.

Martin Luther king’s skillful and articulate use of rhetoric in his “ i Have a Dream” speech was a major turning point in American history and represented a firm stand for equal rights. He spoke out to confront the issues of racism in our nation. This speech was not the beginning or the ending, but a remarkable moment in the fight for equal rights of everyone “When all of God’s children, black men and white men,Jews and Gentiles, Protistans and catholics, will be able to join hands and sign.” “free at last! Free at last! Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s thirst for change, wisdom, and loyalty influences the people of America to come together with men of opposite color united hand in hand. The rhetorical concepts of pathos, ethos,and logos throughly defined the feelings Dr. King reveals in his speech. Pathos was identified as an expressive concept to show how strongly King felt using repetition, domineering words, and encouraging words.Ethos was used to give background and the significance behind the particular sources and information he used to credit himself, as well as, standing behind his own experience to make him a dependable authority. Logos provided insight about Dr. King’s personal beliefs and values. Due to King’s common reference to history, current struggles and his extreme hopes of the future of America, it enabled me to understand and gain an eloquent meaning of his speech. Today as Americans, we give Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The utmost respect for fighting for our rights. He pave the way for many African American leaders such as President Barack Obama who also greatly influences the country with his sense of equality, attentiveness, and extensive knowledge to lead this country. In a sense, king has made us all leaders of this nation.

Reference :
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm