Martin Luther King Speech Rhetorical Devices

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Some men are born to make a difference. They come into this life with the pre-determined destiny to shake the very foundation upon which they stand. Born on January 15th 1929, in the city of Atlanta Georgia, Martin Luther King jr. would grow into one of this nations most admired and memorable men in history. After growing up in the ghettos of Atlanta and finishing high school at the age of 14, he went on to earn a degree in sociology at Morehouse College in 1948. Although his interest in religion had been apparent throughout his youth, it was at this time that he joined the Crozer theological seminary in Chester Pennsylvania. While working on his doctorate, he met Coretta Scott and the two were married in June of 1953. The couple brought four…show more content…
Within minutes of the speeches start, Martin Luther King Jr says “when the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the constitution, they were signing a promissory note to which all Americans would fall heir, a note that guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” (852-853). This is probably the most direct form of logical evidence given in the entire speech. The statement unknowingly asks the question, if all men are created equal and protected by our nation why then are the African American people not receiving the same rights as their white counterparts? Although this maybe common sense in today’s time, in 1964 many people failed to acknowledge the difference in the available living conditions and choices given to the whites verses the blacks. Because the speech asked these types of questions and demanded answers, many minds were opened to the reality of the situation and the movement gained significant…show more content…
Martin Luther King Jr effectively uses rhetorical devices to get his point across. The “I Have a Dream” speech was so heartfelt and touching that its message would be heard for many years after its delivery. The raw emotion and determination of a people that can be felt in its words would be powerful enough to inspire others that even through the suffering and the hardships this truly was a cause to never give up on. Dr. King influenced an entire generation to begin the destruction of racial injustice in the United States and it is because of his efforts and the efforts of those like him that the African American nation received their
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