MLK Speech Rhetorical Analysis

Let Freedom Ring

It's 1963, racism is still a controversial subject, and segregation is still an ongoing issue. Many civil rights activists stand up for equality and to end segregation between blacks and whites. Martin Luther King Jr is a civil rights activist who gave a speech called “I have a Dream” at the “March on Washington”. The speech was a powerful and motivational speech targeted at the general public of the United States of America. As a civil rights activist, King used personal experiences, historical documents, and emotional appeals to inspire his audience. He appealed to ethos, logos, and pathos. By quoting historical documents such as the emancipation proclamation and the Declaration of Independence, King shows his audience he is credible and trustworthy. “This note was a promise that all men… would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” King shows logos by talking about the history of the United States and the roots of the country were founded on black men. King uses pathos in his speech by talking about personal experiences and topics close to his heart, like his children. “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.” He uses many rhetorical devices to appeal to the audience and get his point across to let freedom ring throughout America.