The protest was over African American voting rights, as few African Americans could vote due to racist whites manipulating the voting system. African Americans shied away from voting because of fear of being harassed or absurd tests were given, such as stating the entire U.S Constitution. Johnson’s purpose of his speech was to convince Congress and Americans everywhere to pass his bill on voting reformation. To help make the speech more effective and convincing, Johnson used rhetorical strategies, such as ethos, logos, and pathos. Johnson’s first part of the speech uses rhetorical qualities that unify the audience and make them sympathize with the victims of voting rights.
Kennedy included phrases such as one-half, one-third, twice as much, and half as much to indicate the chances of an average American Negro to complete certain obstacles equivalent to the average white American. The motivation for such number references is relevant and leads up to Kennedy's thought that "a time of domestic crisis men of good will and generosity should be able to unite regardless of party or politics. Within the speech, Kennedy described this nation to be "founded on the principle that all men are created equal however this applied to everyone but Negroes in the community. Lincoln freed the slaves more than a hundred years ago, but to this day, the slaves'
Kings mention of the Emancipation Proclamation was to bring the spectators back to 1865 when Lincoln himself, who was not only morally opposed to slavery, however, was a President who defeated the matter of slavery in the south. In King's second paragraph, he states, “One hundred years later, the Negro still is not free." This was a very big message to not only the Negros but more so to the white people who were holding onto their beliefs of segregation. Another example in the use of allusion within this speech is Thomas Jefferson’s quote “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." King was referring to Jefferson stating that everyone has the right to be free from cruelty and to be treated equally; these ethics are the American
He chose to be vocal about his dissatisfaction with his people’s racial predicament. King spoke as though he was speaking on behalf of his entire race. He was a man of his people and represented their needs and desire to gain equality. King spoke directly against authority, not in a malicious way, but more in a way where he offered criticism and ways in which society needed to reform itself. During the 1963 March on Washington, King delivered perhaps his most famous speech called “I Have a Dream.” This speech called for an end to racism and desegregation in America that was still very prevalent at the time.
50 years ago a very prestigious civil rights activist stood before a segregated separate but equal group of thousands of American citizens. On August 28, 1963 the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. a motivational speaker, and experienced preacher delivered what he stated would “go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.” During this century segregation, discrimination and separation of color had become one of the main factors of this time period. Dr. King had become one of the most influential leaders of the civil rights movement. His prominent speech “I Have A Dream” was given to motivate the citizens of this nation to take action and rise above the turmoil, and the unequal treatment of African Americans.
By citing references of protest such as Jesus Christ, St. Paul, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln, he justifies his current actions for the Negro community and states that he is willing to face the consequences when it comes to protesting for equal rights amongst all Americans. This was the first time that I have read Dr. King’s letter from the Birmingham jail and I have to admit that it was a very moving and inspirational letter to the people of the Civil Rights Movement at the time. I think that this letter showed how he was always protesting through love and peace and never violence, even though he had been classified as an extremist by the white community. By showing this type of leadership he proved to be such a courageous and intelligent figure in the Negro community and his words of wisdom made such a huge impact on the history of the movement. I believe that without letters such as these to his fellow brothers, most protests would not have been “peaceful” and the entire pursuit of equality could have been in jeopardy.
On April 11, 1962, President John F. Kennedy addressed his nation due to the aggrandizement of steel prices the previous day. President Kennedy wants to unify his country and bring out the patriotism in his fellow Americans during a time of war and crisis, this can all be summed up in his most famous quote, "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country." He adopts a disapproving tone in order to captivate his Americans. President Kennedy uses the rhetorical appeals pathos and logos, while also using a formal diction and long sentences. Kennedy begins his address to the nation with his disapproval of the "leading steel corporations" and their "unjustifiable and irresponsible"
Knowing the background information of the speaker(s) and audience(s) will help us to understand how the speaker tailors a message in order to effectively reach their audience(s). One influential leader among African Americans was Booker T. Washington. In his autobiography, Up From Slavery, he describes his life as a slave; his education after freedom from slavery; and discusses people who helped him succeed in life. Mr. Washington was a race leader who saw himself “lifting as he rose.” As he succeeded, he wanted to help others succeed. The highlight of Mr. Washington’s autobiography was in his speech entitled “The Atlanta Exposition Address.” In this speech he was not only representing himself, but he represented the
Just as blacks in the south, they wanted equal rights. However, there was one major difference: there were no laws in the north pertaining to the black community. There were no political figures to fight. In the south, civil rights protestors had a battle laid out for them: they had the Jim Crow laws to deem unjust; they had the numerous bombings directed toward important black icons to protest. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s “expose the evil” tactic worked so well in the south because so much of the evil was easily spotted.
Martin Luther King Jr’s writings, teachings and speech’s are timeless; they left people rethinking their attitudes towards African Americans and racism. He spoke of a compelling brotherhood and sisterhood of all American citizens, and how he one day wished that all brothers and sisters, white or black could unite as one and form a unity. Martin Luther King made it known to the nation and the world that civil rights and justice should be upheld for not only white citizens but black citizens too. He was one of the most influential people of the 20th century and since 1983 America has named a holiday after him, to look back and