One of the most iconic moments in American history happened on August 28, 1963. On that day, Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” public speech. King sent a rallying cry for freedom to over 250,000 supporters who joined the March on Washington, an anti-racist civil rights demonstration (RARE FACTS). The speech was accepted with great enthusiasm, promoting the cause of freedom and social justice in the United States and making King one of the most influential figures in our nation’s history. King intended to inspire the masses, to make them see the nobility of the anti-segregation cause and expand it beyond the struggle of Black Americans. In that regard, his speech was overwhelmingly successful, rightfully earning the status of a rhetoric art masterpiece.
Martin Luther King was not merely talking to a large crowd gathered around the Lincoln Memorial. He appealed to the whole American nation, “from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire” to “the mighty mountains of New York” (RARE FACTS). Over and over again, King urged all Americans to “let freedom ring” across the United States. King associated freedom with ending racial segregation and establishing a new American society where Black and White Americans would live together in peace and happiness. His message was aimed at everyone who could hear and understand it. It was a message of reconciliation and healing, a message of hope and dream, a message that aligned the civil rights movement with the foundations of America.
The anti-segregation statement was a central element of King’s speech. In a slow and concerned tone, King admitted that the “Negro is still not free” as “the life of the Negro is crippled by the manacles of segregation and chains of discrimination” (RARE FACTS 00:01:30-00:01:42). From that premise, he developed a logical argument, linking anti-racism to the Declaration of Independence. King urged Americans to think — about how racial segregation can be justified if “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”? (RARE FACTS 00:02:05-00:02:12) This reference to the Declaration of Independence raised a wave of applause and loud cheering in the audience.
From here, Martin Luther King drastically changed the manner of delivery. In the first part, he stated bitter facts about injustice and oppression against Black Americans. King even used the word “Negro” instead of “Black” to underscore how little progress had been achieved since Lincoln’s era. In contrast, he delivered the second part of his speech in a spirited, hopeful tone to express his dream for a better future. It was a plea to embrace the idea of making America a truly free country for everyone. However, King was not begging or asking — he was encouraging all Americans to support a morally right cause. His voice was charged with the power and confidence of a man who sincerely speaks his mind and has the courage to stand for his ideals.
Overall, “I Have a Dream” is a perfect example of how a speaker should organize a speech to deliver an intended message and win new supporters. King followed a slow and steady introduction with a logical argument against segregation. He referenced the Declaration of Independence as a bridge to the emotional image of great America, a country free from racism. As an audience member, I can see why many White Americans supported the civil rights movement. In his speech, King presented himself as a passionate, brave, and intelligent man. He crushed negative stereotypes of Black people, making the racists look foolish compared to him. At the same time, King called for reconciliation instead of simply blaming White Americans. In the end, “I Have a Dream” became a manifest of his vision, making Martin Luther King an immortal figure in our nation’s history.
Work Cited
“I Have a Dream Speech by Martin Luther King. Jr HD (Subtitled).” YouTube, uploaded by RARE FACTS, 2017, Web.