Martin Luther King's Role In The Independence Of African Americans

Martin Luther King's dream has become a reality; schools across the United States are now desegregated and open to students of all races. However, despite this progress, there is still much work to be done to address systemic racism in our educational institutions, government, and law enforcement. In his powerful and inspiring speech, Martin Luther King Jr. skillfully employs various rhetorical devices such as pathos, ethos, and logos, along with figurative language, to evoke emotions among the audience, establish relatability, and persuade the members of Congress that change is inevitable.

This influential speech took place at the culmination of the momentous March on Washington, a gathering advocating for freedom and job opportunities for people of all colors. Approximately 250,000 individuals attended the march, which saw numerous other speakers and performers contributing to the historic event. The march was organized during the height of the Civil Rights Movement in 1963, a period marked by instances of police brutality against peaceful protestors in Birmingham, Alabama, just within the preceding year.

Initially, the plan was to conclude the march at the capital, but the civil rights leaders collectively decided to relocate it to the Lincoln Memorial. This choice was highly appropriate as Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation exactly one hundred years earlier in 1863, marking the conclusion of the Civil War and the emancipation of all enslaved individuals. To ensure that the media wouldn't disperse before the end of the rally, all the other speakers expressed their desire to go first, leaving Martin Luther King to deliver his speech last.

At the beginning, King adhered to his prepared script, but as he reached the closing moments, he began to improvise, passionately referencing a dream he held dear. This impromptu segment of the speech has become one of its most iconic and memorable parts.

Martin Luther King aimed to convince his audience to advocate for racial justice on behalf of mistreated African Americans and to unite in defending the constitutional rights guaranteed to them. To achieve this, he employed various rhetorical devices and figurative language, including similes, metaphors, and repetition, allowing him to convey his emotions in a more abstract manner. Throughout the speech, King frequently used the pronoun "we," treating his diverse audience as a cohesive whole, promoting inclusivity, and building trust with his listeners.

The speech's chronological organization was also highly logical, as King began by alluding to historical events, setting the context for the racial injustice prevalent in America. He then vividly depicted the current state of affairs before concluding the speech with a powerful dream of a better, more equitable future, where racial harmony and integration would be realized in America.

In his speech, King opens with the impactful phrase, "five score years ago," drawing power from the setting of the Lincoln Memorial and the revered status of Abraham Lincoln. By using this line, he employs the ethos device to establish credibility and ethical appeal with his audience. Throughout the speech, King recurrently references light and darkness, foreshadowing the combination of religion and politics that will shape the rest of his address.

Repetition becomes another essential tool for King's rhetorical strategy. In the opening paragraph, he emphasizes the phrase "one hundred years later" at the beginning of each sentence, highlighting the continued lack of peace and justice for African Americans, despite the passage of time. Towards the conclusion, King employs the repetition of iconic lines like "Let freedom ring" and "I have a dream," reinforcing their significance and ensuring they resonate deeply with his listeners. This deliberate use of repetition not only etches the speech into people's minds but also enhances the overall sense of drama and conviction.

There are many metaphors that are used in this famous speech, but the central metaphor that sticks throughout the whole speech is the metaphor about the bad “check” that was owed to African Americans by the rest of America. King uses ethos in the next few lines where he refers to the founding fathers as “architects of our Republic” and how they wrote the Declaration of Independence and Constitution as a “promise” that everyone would be guaranteed “the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” appealing to the ethical appeal of the audience (King). Everyone would know about those documents and what they say and how America is failing to live up to their wise words. King compares his dream of equality to the overall American Dream. He uses logos in his speech when he states, “America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked insufficient funds” (King).

In his speech, King employs logic as a form of reasoning, choosing an analogy that resonates with everyone: the idea of receiving a bad check. This relatable scenario allows the listeners to understand the injustice African Americans faced. Moreover, he asserts that the "Bank" is not bankrupt and urges the need to "cash the check," emphasizing that African Americans are not to blame but victims of a crime, evoking even deeper emotions.

The most prevalent rhetorical device in King's speech is the pathos appeal. His powerful statements have a profound impact, stirring genuine emotions in the listeners. King masterfully appeals to the emotional values of both black and white individuals, uniting them in a shared understanding of the injustice at hand. Alongside his references to the lack of rights for African Americans, King's skillful use of repetition further amplifies the audience's emotions. This technique not only reinforces key words and phrases but also unifies the entire speech, leaving a lasting emotional impact on the audience.