Martin Luther King Jr
In his world-renowned speech, "I Have A Dream," Martin Luther King Jr. describes his reflection of present-day America and his hopes of the future by dramatizing the disgraceful situation in which America is consumed. In 1963, when this speech was being given to the 200, 000 demonstrators that crowded Washington, D.C., racism was very high, despite the Emancipation Proclamation that had been signed one hundred years earlier. His essay was a major milestone in American history, and serves as a cornerstone to the beginning of equality in America. King's proposal to the American people of the 1960's is one of many strong rhetorical strategies used, defined and well rounded by the frequent use of imagery and comparing and contrasting past, present, and future America. Even today, King's speech, although originally aimed at demonstrators during the equal rights movement, affects American beliefs about and attitudes toward a more equal society: "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'" His persuasive argument is saturated with dramatic words and optimism, and provide
One of the most important, yet not as obvious, rhetorical strategies employed in Martin Luther King's speech is the comparing and contrasting of past, present, and future America to show change in society. In one case, it reveals the lack of change America has gone through since its childhood years, as far as equal rights are concerned: "Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation...It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity. But one hundred years later, the Negro is not free." By comparing what was thought to be America's future with present-day America, it is seen that times have not changed according to what was expected. Although all whites were stereotypically seen as racist 37 years ago, King shows that not all white men were racist by comparing them with the many white people that had attended his speech in 1963: "And the marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people; for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with out destiny, and they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom." While some white people are racist, others
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Approximate Word count = 893
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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