Running head: I Have A Dream Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

I Have A Dream Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Caley Leask

RWS 1301

Professor Randi Bossi

University of Texas at El Paso

Running head: I Have A Dream Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 2

Abstract

Throughout this paper, it focuses on how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s speech, I Have A

Dream, influenced the lives of thousands of people in Washington, as well as around the world.

Freedom and equality were a focal point in his speech, and we were able to identify how he was

able to present his point, that African Americans must come together and help American society

in becoming equal for all, despite an individuals race. King uses many different techniques to

get his point across, ethos which is based off of his own credibility and the sources he uses.

Pathos as it is an appeal to the audiences emotions, and logos, which he uses analogies to provide

logic to prove and persuade his audience into listening and taking his advice. We also analyzed

what kind of credentials and how the past and his past influenced his speech and why he decided

to stand up in Washington and deliver this, world influencing speech. There was many factors

that influenced this speech, however there was also some constraints that were present that added

some challenges to this speech, that are discussed in this paper. Overall, this paper discusses

motivations, techniques, and constraints that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. went through during his

speech, and all will demonstrate if he had achieved his end goal of motivating African

Americans into achieving equality and freedom together in American society.

Running head: I Have A Dream Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 3

Throughout American history, there have been many changing moments, documents,

speeches, etc, that have impacted society and American culture today. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

was a very incredible individual who was involved in a large part of the Civil Rights Movement.

He performed the speech I Have A Dream at the March on Washington for jobs and freedom

on August 28th, 1963, which is one of the most powerful speeches given by man. The makeup of

his speech had many great aspects which allowed listeners to understand how he wanted to help

America develop by pushing for freedom and equality for everyone, regardless of their race.

Some rhetorical aspects of his speech that help the audience understand his message of freedom

and equality are demonstrated through Ethos, Pathos, and Logos. Throughout this analysis of Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr.s speech, I Have A Dream, we will be able to understand the

motivation behind his speech through ethos, pathos, and logos; as well as how this speech

changed the ideologies of American society.

A large group of individuals gathered together in Washington, D.C. on August 28th, 1963

to fight for the rights of racial equality and freedom. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speech, I Have

A Dream, was the most impactful speech that was given, changing the way Americans looked

at society and the mistreatment of African Americans that was going on at that time. Considering

that this gathering was in a large, outdoor setting, a speech was the only appropriate way to be

heard by all who were in attendance. He was trying to allow everyone understand the injustices

and discrimination of African Americans that have gone on in the past and that have continued

on to that present day and that all of it had to change. He needed everyone to come together to

understand that none of it was right and that we needed to change it because the greatness of

America wasnt solely in the hands of the whites, but in the hands of every single American
Running head: I Have A Dream Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 4

citizen. To prove that he wasnt just saying this, he had to provide proof to help his audience

understand his point. This is what we would call logos, the term used when a rhetor is using

proof to demonstrate logic in an argument. During the speech, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., uses

analogies to convince his audience to listen and believe what hes saying is valid. An example of

an analogy that is used is when he says America has given the Negro people a bad check, a

check which has come back marked insufficient funds (King, 1963). This quote demonstrates

logos as most people understand money as well as what it feels like to receive a bad check at

some moment in their lives. The audience can understand this by the idea that African Americans

are not being given the proper rights or freedoms (the money) that they deserve, because they are

different and will therefore not be treated equally by the whites (America). This speech is trying

to persuade people to come and stand together to help African Americans get the money they

have rights to.

Pathos relates to the emotions we feel when reading, viewing or listening to a text. In Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech "I Have A Dream", people are lead to feel empowered and

sentimental. The way he spoke made the people who were listening, want to make a change in

the way society was and change how unequally African Americans were being treated. African

Americans who already supported him felt more empowered to try and make this change in

society for freedom and equality. Though this speech would have been for African Americans at

the time, the whites who listened could have also been hit by the powerful messages he

presented. He says for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today,

have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. (King, 1963), shows that

some whites were already understanding that everyone needed to live in peace and harmony in
Running head: I Have A Dream Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 5

order for American society to be successful. When he says "I have a dream that my four little

children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but

by the content of their character. is an extremely important message and hits home in the heart

as it helps more and more people relate to the fact that hes also a caring father who wants the

best for his kids. This also makes the people listening want to make a change because being

white doesn't mean that you are superior to an African American, which was the idea at this time

and even further in the past. An African American could have better character than a white and

still be looked upon as not worthy and treated unequal because they weren't "the same" as

whites, therefore not being good enough. Society allowed this injustice to carry on for far too

long, which is why Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. decided to do this speech and say that one day,

everyone would be able to live together as equals and free. This change would come from the

heart of all individuals who heard this speech and decide to make this difference and strive for

equality and freedom as all because America would only be truly great and free if ALL of its

members, not only whites but African American, were considered equal in each other's eyes.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a man that nearly everyone could look up to in life. He

had a great foundation built for credibility. He had gone to multiple different schools to get his

degrees, including Boston University. He received his B.A. degree in 1948 from Morehouse

College, a very distinguished Negro Institution of Atlanta, where both his father and grandfather

had also graduated. He also was a pastor at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery,

Alabama, giving him a great insight of religious teachings. Credibility is when someone has the

ability to say or provide a context that is not only real and good but also not "judged". Ethos is

what we would call credibility today. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. built his ethos in his "I Have a
Running head: I Have A Dream Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 6

Dream" speech by having a good back story and reputation. Firstly, he is the son of Martin

Luther King who was a very respected man. Another reason ethos is present in this speech is that

he has been doing public speaking for quite some time and had built a good foundation for

people to believe and follow his lead and what he says. His speech also has some references to

very credible sources, former president Abraham Lincoln when he says at the very beginning of

his speech Five score years ago a great American in whose symbolic shadow we stand today

signed the Emancipation Proclamation. (King, 1963), which was a key part in helping African

Americans in society. He also referenced The Declaration of Independence, as well as the Bible

which are very credible in themselves. These 3 sources are very important as they lay a good

foundation for the content of his speech about freedom and equality of rights for African

Americans. Abraham Lincoln was viewed as a liberator when he was responsible for The

Emancipation Proclamation. The Declaration of Independence is also a credible source as it

states that the government is for the people and that all men are created equal. Lastly, as

Christianity was continuously growing, the Bible is also a reliable source as the teachings inside

are viewed as truthful and right. A lot of them teach us to be caring, and kind to everyone

regardless of what they look like, they're ideologies, where they're from, how they act,

everything. We are to treat others as equals at all time and respect and love each other as we are

all brothers and sisters in the eyes of God. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is showing the audience

that discrimination, segregation, and all these other racial injustices that have been going on,

need to be stopped immediately as it goes against basic rights that every man and woman should

have.
Running head: I Have A Dream Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 7

Though Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. got a lot of positive response during and after his

speech, there will always be individuals who are in disagreement, especially at this era in time.

The white radicals and racists were in obvious disagreement as they do not believe that African

Americans should be free, or considered as equals in American society. These individuals who

are against the freedom of oppression African Americans were facing would be considered a

constraint to King. They refuse to open up their minds to new, progressive way of thinking and

want to revert to the old ways of the South. In a statement in his speech, he says I have a dream

that one day on the red hills of Georgia sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave-

owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day

even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat

of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. (King, 1963) This is a

good statement as it shows that one day, when the people who are against the freedom and

equality of African Americans realize that there needs to be a change, even the places with the

worst past, can finally be free and just. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. presented this speech because

all of these social injustices needed to come to an end. As part of the Civil Rights Movement,

this was very important as it was conducted in a very civil matter and was not attacking anyone,

but rather explaining how society should be, equal, rather than discriminatory. It was a non-

violence approach by King because he ended up winning a Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 a year

after his speech. His motivation for this speech was based off the suffering of others in the past

and wanting American society to finally reach its greatness by coming together and standing as

one for peace, equality, and freedom. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ended up inspiring so many

people to help this change, and he impacted more than just Americans, but people around the

World to stand up against racial injustices and fight for freedom for all.
Running head: I Have A Dream Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 8

The fight for freedom and equality has always been a struggle for African Americans,

and still is today, even though it does not seem so. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s speech I Have

A Dream, is recognized worldwide for its impact of the fight for freedom. Throughout his

speech, he appealed to logic, emotions, and had a credible sources and background information

to help make everything he said, easier to accept and understand. Though he faced some

constraints in the individuals like radicals and racists who did not want to move into a more

progressive era of equality; he still ended up getting his message across to everyone else through

his delivery and effectiveness of his speech. Freedom and equality are extremely important in a

functioning society, and in the past when slavery, discrimination, and segregation were still a

large part of American society, nothing good came from it. Kings literal and rhetorical ability to

deliver his message to thousands of people and make such a great impact of the world is

impeccable. He was able to persuade people to follow him or change their ways through the way

he worded ideas. This helped American culture into becoming ever more successful and a far

more peaceful and enjoyable environment to be around. Though freedom and equality is still

being fought for, this speech definitely helped more and more African Americans, as well as

whites come together and fight together for justice.

Running head: I Have A Dream Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 9

References

Rhetorical Analysis of I Have A Dream Stephanie Phibbs

https://stephaniephibbs.wordpress.com/english-1010/

Martin Luther King Jr. Biography

"Martin Luther King Jr. - Biography". Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB 2014.
Web. 15 Oct 2017.
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html

Why Is The Declaration Of Independence Important

https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/why-declaration-independence-
important-me-281745

How Martin Luther Kings I Have A Dream Speech Changed The World
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/28/i-have-a-dream-speech-
world_n_3830409.html