Rhetorical
Analysis of I Have a Dream
By
mid 20th Century, racism was a major obstacle to the prosperity of
the United States .
Most prominent of all was racist ideologies between the blacks and the white
population. People from the black community were subjects of brutality and
merciless victimization under a society with a corrupt legal system, even
though they should have been free. As such, it was the African American’s turn
to alter skewed system by civil rights activism. Martin Luther
King Jr.
was one of the most notable black activists of 1960s. He was a leader of
Southern Christian Leadership Conference and participated in multiple civil
rights protests and boycotts. His I Have
a Dream Speech delivered on Lincoln Memorial steps to tens of thousands of
American citizens wielded a massive impact because it illustrated the racist
issues of early 1950s thus provoking the audience to be sympathetic and hopeful
for the future.
One of the most important reasons
why I Have a Dream was successful was
the tense social mood at the venue that reflected the conditions in the
country. It gave people of color a vision for the future. It was successful in
striking directly into the hearts of the minorities across the United States
besides making the whites ashamed for their unorthodox and barbaric actions.
Within 17 minutes, Martin
Luther Jr.
informed and influenced many generations of individuals on fairness and racial
equality (King 3). Many scholars unanimously agree that Luther ’s
short speech is a rhetoric masterpiece. An in-depth analysis of the speech
indicates King's careful and artistic speech structure that appeals to
different audiences. He supports it with rhetorical modes such as logos,
pathos, and ethos. Besides, he reinforces his speech with rhetorical schemes
and tropes to carve his name in the books of history.
Structurally,
Martin Luther excels in his speech by depicting
the plight of African Americans, exposing the truth about the civil rights
movements, and instilling hope in the foreseeable future. Actually, he intends
that his speech structure should appeal three distinct audience types likely in
attendance or listen to his speech. These people were the average people of
color that were victims of discrimination and segregation, the average white
population that bears typical thoughts of 1960s, and racist supremacists and
black militants that based their argument on the evil nature of blacks and the
violence caused by rights movements.
The
first portion of I have a Dream
describes the horrible condition and plight of an average African American. He
says that manacles of discrimination and chains of segregation cripple black
man’s life. Luther expounds that while
America
is a vast material prosperity ocean, African Americans are still living on a
lonely island plagued by poverty. Such a phrase was an eye-opener to the whites
on sufferings endured by black people. He conceives a mindset that turns the
White Americans against their inconsiderate and inhumane actions (King 7). On the other hand, his words struck deep into
the hearts of non-whites. Furthermore, king laid emphasis on his sentiments by
listing instances of challenges that the minorities face on a daily basis thus
stirring the audience’s sadness as it becomes clearer for the white majority
that they are indeed responsible for all woes. Martin Luther
King Jr.
refers to the constitution and how the greater US breaks the promise made to
people of color in the Bill of Rights as they refuse them their constitutional
entitlements. He intentionally diverts the attention of the audience to the plight
of African American and how it is the fault of white Americans.
After
depicting several examples of African American pain and the brutality of white
people, Martin Luther knows that it is imperative for his audience to receive a
message of hope. Therefore, as his speech nears the end, he focuses on the
future when all brutality will be quashed and freedom for all will be part and
parcel of law and order. He also says that people of all races will be brothers
and sisters joining hands to fulfill the American dream and living together as
a cohesive nation. It cannot be denied that Martin Luther
King Jr.
intelligently utilizes well-planned ad carefully choreographed structure to
manipulate his audience and the nation at large into believing his thoughts on
the African American plight.
In
conclusion, King’s I Have a Dream speech has earned its place in history as one
of the most famous in America ’s
history. At the time of its delivery, segregation and racism gripped the US ,
thus threatening its foundations. Black people endured lives full of suffering,
marginalization and victimization, but Luther ’s
speech changed the prospects for the better. It inspired people of color to
hold on to their dreams despite the horrible societal conditions (King 9). On
the other hand, it made the white community realize the extent of damage
inflicted by their actions against the blacks.
Works
Cited
Longaker, Mark G , and Jeffrey
Walker . Rhetorical Analysis: A Brief Guide for
Writers. Boston :
Longman, 2011. 1-66. Print.
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