Renowned civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his notorious speech, “I Have a Dream”, in the midst of societal strife across the United States. Throughout his oration, King lances at the status quo, one where African Americans are degraded and demeaned to the sewers of American society; instead, he proposes a new country—a new way—where African Americans will fight until they obtain the rights they were originally promised. In superb recognition of his audience, King uses a litany of devices, from metaphors to anaphora, in order to develop rage within the audience—a unifying quality that would undoubtedly drive a movement facing gusty headwinds. Intending to concisely state the purpose of his speech, Martin Luther King utilizes …show more content…
In his speech, King catalogs the abuses endured by minorities, ranging from cruel police brutality to the psychological abuses stemming from the systematic segregation that demeaned the African American’s sense of self (Jr.). While these atrocities certainly riled African Americans, this list is also meant to impact his white audience. Even though white Americans do not experience the African American’s hardships, the statement forces the white listener to confront the reality of America—it is not truly the land of the free. As a result, a sense of confliction would have enshrouded these white assemblymen. The glaring disconnect between their personal beliefs about America’s defining principle and its actual policies would have also fostered boiling ire. In an attempt to rectify the situation, these audience members would also intently concentrate on King’s vision of America; afterward, this anger would be directed towards perfecting an equal American society. In employing pathos, King effectively prompts his white brethren to become involved, resulting in the recruitment of new activists that would eventually overwhelm America’s conscience and achieve his envisioned