Analysis of i have a Dream Speech

Rhetorical analysis of I Have a Dream

Martin Luther King, Jr delivered a historic speech, I have a Dream', to more than 250,000 people on August 1963. The speech took place at Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C. His speech is still regarded as one of the most influential speech that have ever presented. The way speech engages audience is phenomenal. The speech depicts the struggle faced by African American people. King has referenced the American way of life to persuade his vision of equality for all American people. It has covered all the reason that led America to Civil Right movement by using facts, emotions and logics why all the American must be given equal rights.

As the March of Washington gathered half a million people for the protest, King utilizes the march to have his voice heard. He referenced to the fact that, Five score year ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation I Have a Dream, American Rhetoric (Martin Luther King). It helped to engage the audience to think that the need of the movement was crucial. Not only it portrays the fact that racial discrimination has been still in position, it would still be an issue even after 100 years if any action against it is not taken. King supports his argument with an example of present segregation, and Negro's unfortunate reality to be an exile in their own land and poverty. His credibility of presenting facts made himself as someone to trust his words and the plans he has for ending the racial discrimination.

King expressed his emotions throughout the speech. He talks about his children that would be directly be affected by the discrimination. He says, his four children will one day live in a nation where they will not only be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character I Have a Dream, American Rhetoric (Martin Luther King). He makes himself vulnerable as his children would have to be defined for what they are not, that is with their color of skin instead of the character and their ability to bring the positiveness to the society. He feels the joy to deliver the speech in front of the people that mattered to him. He brings the founding fathers of America and their way to American life, liberties, and pursuit of happiness have failed and have impacted most people on their own land. King states that all men, yes all black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights I have a Dream, American Rhetoric (Martin Luther King). Using of phrases such as and the glory of the lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together proves that he is a faithful man and is trying to look up for the people.

 Martin Luther King seems to be knowledgeable about what is the way America should have been. Mentioning as many sources and deliver them in such a tone that everyone would feel energetic has made himself believable. Mentioning the declaration of independence, he makes sure that he is not only referencing black people, but also white people who wanted independence from Great Britain and had to fight for it. He adds powerful words and emotions such as, this is no time to engage in luxury of cooling off or to take a tranquilizing drug of gradualism I have a Dream, American Rhetoric (Martin Luther King).

Dr. King have used many logical explanations to the speech as well. To articulate his speech, he's used many facts and scenarios to provide logic to his dream. He says, the marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to distrust of all white people I have a Dream, American Rhetoric (Martin Luther King), claiming that all white people are not as bad and are to be stereotyped as the discriminator. He respects and understands what audience wants, equality, however he doesn't let the situation drive as a hate speech. He proceeds by stating that some white people have realized what they have done and are ready to fight for their freedom. King also references that black people have been given a bad check having insufficient funds. This analogy has made people think that the issue have already been addressed however haven't been implemented. King tries to unite the nation rather than dividing people in a group where they fight with themselves. His logical explanation such as, we cannot walk alone, and as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead, we cannot turn back I have a Dream, American Rhetoric (Martin Luther King) makes large amount of audience calm down of the situation and proceed with peace and precautions. It's phenomenal when King could use his words to manipulate the audience's mind for good. He also gives an example of saying the dream is to enable an equality where a black boys and black girls will be able to study and play with white brothers and sisters.

In conclusion, a speech I have a Dream by Martin Luther King was presented in a way that engaged audience with passion, energy and logic. The speech had significant amount of rhetoric devices such as ethos, logos and pathos to articulate King's dream about ending racial discrimination. King has not only presented many facts, he has used emotions and logic to prove his emotion how he is someone trustworthy and how he can guide American people to the freedom. He refers American freedom as not only black peoples dream but also tried to engage white people's feelings and their contribution towards freedom of all Americans.

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