Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. changed the lives of many African American citizens with his empowering speech about the equality of mankind and the desecration of man itself. Standing in front of 250,000 people on the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963, King declaimed his views on equality and changed America in ways most leaders wish they could. The great and inspiring civil rights leader played a pivotal role in ending the segregation between African American men and women with his rhetorical language, leaving a great impact on America today. Through his wide range of ethos, pathos, and logos, as well as tropes, appeals, and scheme techniques, he influenced Americans to believe that all men, black or white, are created equal. King relies mostly …show more content…
King used pathos and logos as well as ethos in his speech to appeal to the audience in a more emotional way. He mostly attempts to appeal to the audiences’ emotions, fears, and desires. When King repeats with the infamously famous quote, “I have a dream,” he stresses a sense of sympathy and hope towards the African American population during that time period. King states that the, “Negro…finds himself in exile in his own land.” In this phrase, King yields compassion as one can see when he emphasizes the unfair treatment and the alienation of the African Americans. King also uses highly connotative language so that he could evoke an emotional response to the audience by saying words such as, “chains of discrimination” and “oppression” to reinforce the need to change. He not only uses words to get to the saddening side of his audience, but King also uses an uplifting tone to motivate and inspire his audience by using positive diction, using words such as “freedom,” “majestic,” and “brotherhood.” Furthermore, King appeals to logos through his use of analogies; for example, “America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked ‘insufficient funds.’” This analogy applies to logos by using a form of reasoning since he appeals to the basic concept of money and the frustration of receiving a “bad check.” Not only does King like to appeal to his audience, but he also uses rich metaphors to convey his message across American
In 1963, minister and rights activist, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave a speech in front of Lincoln memorial to bring awareness to the unfairness of injustice for black people. King's speech was an effort to try and mandate the coming together of the black and white race and finally have the equality between us all be put into force for a free nation. As the speech left King’s mouth and entered 250,000 citizens ears, it left them to think about what point he was trying to make because he uses pathos, logos, and ethos.
Martin Luther King Jr., used ethos in his speech, “I Have a Dream” to build on trust and connections with the audience. He made the audience know he knew exactly what was going on currently with their struggles and racism issues. In this quote King Jr. explains how African Americans have been mistreated, stripped from their self-hood, and robbed their dignity over millions of years and it has to be stopped and changed.
Dr. King used pathos and logos as well as ethos in his speech to appeal to the audience in a more emotional way. He mostly attempts to appeal to the audiences’ emotions, fears, and desires. When King repeats with the infamously famous quote, “I have a dream,” he stresses a sense of sympathy and hope towards the African American population during that time period. King states that the, “Negro…finds himself in exile in his own land.” In this phrase, King yields compassion as one can see when he emphasizes the unfair treatment and alienation of the African Americans. King also uses highly connotative language so that he could evoke a, emotional response to the audience such as, “chains of discrimination” and “oppression” to reinforce the need
Martin Luther King Jr. changed the Civil Rights movement with the sound of his voice. Martin Luther King was the most powerful activist for equal rights because of his peaceful marches, and speeches. The March on Washington and the I Have a Dream speech were the most important events he participated in. The “I Have a Dream” speech took place in August, 1963, in Washington D.C. The speech was monumental for the Civil Rights Movement, as it was broadcasted nationwide. The speech consisted of how African Americans have been discriminated against as time progress since the Gettysburg Address one hundred years before. Dr. King then went on to explain some of the problems African Americans still face today. As the speech went on he gradually raised
Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the most famous civil rights activists in the history of the United States. He gave several important speeches and promoted non-violent protests. His most famous speech was “I Have A Dream”, around a quarter of a million patrons, black and white, attended this empowering speech at the March on Washington on August 28, 1963. The reason his speech was vastly successful in the movement against segregation and injustice was because of its repetitiveness.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech was an astonishing display of language that persuaded the American nation to dissolve the barrier that stood between equality for all in our great nation. The true beauty in Dr. King’s speech rests in his ability to persuade the audience at the Lincoln Memorial, as well as, the nation to believe that it is a necessity to rid the exigence of segregation. Through the usage of metaphors that engage the reader, King uses language as an instrument to control the audience’s emotions and fuel their ideas that they can be the ones to make the change to propel our nation from one mediocrity to greatness. In his speech, King uses an eloquent blend between symbols and emotions through metaphors to persuade the audience that there is no true constraint that can hold them from achieving their goal and use the historical March on Washington as the solution to this exigence that failed to wither away one hundred years ago when Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
One of the most important civil rights leaders in American history was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King fought for freedom, equality and peace, which helped our nation in the best way. During his time he fought for liberation using nonviolence and passive resistance while he preached equality to the people. However, on August 28th, 1963, Dr. King preached a message of nonviolence in hopes to achieve social change. This speech expressed his feelings and perspectives of the unjust events during the 1900's. Dr. King proposed that African Americans had
The first indication of Ethos that I noticed in Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech is within his statement, which began, "Five score years ago a great American in whose symbolic shadow we stand today signed the Emancipation Proclamation" (King, M.L.). Within the syntax of the statement, the phrase "Five score" directly references to one of the most famous speeches ever given by a President, the Gettysburg Address given by Abraham Lincoln, whom Martin Luther King Jr. is referencing. An example of logos is when Martin Luther King Jr. compares the reason for the “March on Washington” to “cashing a check” (King, M.L.). This comparison throughout the beginning of the speech, seen as an analogy, helps to ensure a logical structure for the argument.
Free at last!” (King). Obviously, people of different cultures and beliefs have not lived in perfect harmony. Wishing for a future in which all groups live in peace appeals to the soul of anyone affected by racism or hatred. King not only uses pathos in his “I Have a Dream Speech”, but he also utilizes logos. One example of King 's logical appeals is when he states: ““America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds”” (King) In order to be a citizen in a society, currency is a vital skill to understand. One part of payment and money if often times, checks. Wisely, Dr.King exemplifies the way Negros are treated to as a bad check; an idea all people can grasp. In addition, Dr.King uses another logical appeal to persuade his audience to stand up for civil rights. King says: ““We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro 's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed
On August 28, 1963 more than 250,000 civil-rights supporters attended the March on Washington. Addressing the protesters from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Profoundly, he proclaimed for a free nation of equality where all race would join together in the effort to achieve common ground. King stated his yearning for all colors to unite and be judged by character, not by race. African Americans would not be satisfied until their desire for freedom from persecution, bitterness, and hatred prevailed. Not only were the points in his speech powerful, but also the delivery he gave was so persuading and real
On August 28th, 1963, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr stood on the steps in front of the Lincoln Memorial and delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. He spoke passionately for 17 minutes on his views about human equality for African Americans at one of the largest civil rights demonstrations in history. King played a major role in ending the segregation for African Americans. His rhetorical language left an impact on America. Through his use of appeals like ethos, logos, pathos, and other rhetorical techniques. He influenced Americans to believe in the notion that all men are created equal.
He questions the audience about society and what they have done for their community. “We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality; we can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities; we cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro’s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one; we can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity,” (King). King knows how to bring the people into the speech to involve every single person standing before him and make them feel like they are apart of the speech. He mentions what has been taken away from them which creates anger within the crowd. King’s ability to appeal to the audience through emotion affected society for decades after and changed the sense of pride the African Americans had.
In Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream speech, King makes use of an innumerable amount of rhetorical devices that augment the overall understanding and flow of the speech. King makes the audience feel an immense amount of emotion due to the outstanding use of pathos in his speech. King also generates a vast use of rhetorical devices including allusion, anaphora, and antithesis. The way that King conducted his speech adds to the comprehension and gives the effect that he wants to rise above the injustices of racism and segregation that so many people are subjected to on a daily basis.
Martin Luther King Jr, a black man living in a terrible community, thought to speak out against the hatred for blacks. His views on equality were unacceptable, so he thought to speak out to change the community’s outlook. Ordinarily, black citizens were slumped down and just accepted the criticism and hatred, but he had this idea of everyone being the same. He then started to show up at public speakings to show people he will not be knocked down. Although this choice made him more loathed he kept pushing through
In conclusion, As a final point, Martin Luther King Jr. and Maya Angelou are strong activists that Americans need. Martin Luther King Jr. and Maya Angelou used ethos, logos, and pathos to describe the changes for a better tomorrow in America through their own style of writing like poetry or speeches. When Martin Luther king Jr. and Maya Angelou spoke they used pathos to build a connection with the audience to hear and feel his statement. In addition to pathos, they blended ethos and logos to complete their writing. Furthermore, Martin Luther King Jr. is a reverend and Maya Angelou is an iconic author and entertainer which makes them credible. In addition, to ethos with the facts and explanations they applied benefits logos making an unforgettable