Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech is recognized as one of the best addresses of the twentieth century. The struggle against racial discrimination, segregation, and ignorance has filled America for most of the past century. To understand its authentic meaning, one must delve into U.S. history, into those distant events that preceded such an important occasion as the march on Washington and the utterance of the world-famous phrase. Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech is unique as it united people in the struggle for their rights and is still relevant today.
Racial discrimination has been one of the greatest problems in the history of the United States. One hundred years after the United States Constitution was amended to abolish slavery, create equality under the law, and allow people to vote regardless of race, African Americans faced discrimination, disenfranchisement, and humiliation (King). This problem was particularly acute in the South of the state. The lack of equality and the tension between whites and blacks was the occasion for a speech designed to dramatically change lives in the United States. As a Baptist minister, Martin Luther King gave a real engaging sermon lecture (Alvarez 336). It was not a sermon in its pure form, but it was in the religious one familiar to Americans standing at the foot of the Lincoln Monument. The stylistics of the speech was primarily dictated by the author’s rejection of common political slogans and an appeal to such a personal narrative of his dream.
The very concept of the speech is structured in a way that Martin Luther King shares his dream with his comrades while educating them. He does not state how things should be or what should be done, but his dream life in the USA is the major topic (Alvarez 348). Nevertheless, the engaging form of the speech delivery enhances the impact of his theses on the audience because King does not simply recite, appealing to reason, but during repetitions touches the audience’s feelings and puts his ideas and his dream into their heads. The audience was about 300,000 people, of whom 80% were black people who were waiting, or rather yearning, to hear this kind of speech and listen to every word King said (Alvarez 338). Thousands of blacks could not cope with their humiliation and destruction.
As Luther King used a historical reference, he encouraged his listeners. This type of speech gave them the strength to fight for liberation and was effective. The most important thing about his speech is the spirit with which he speaks his mind and addresses everyone while persuading to make changes. Watching the oration recording, one cannot help but emphasize the pauses, the intonation of the voice, and the gestures, which help to keep in contact with the audience. The emotionality, the connection with the audience, the necessary pauses for reflection in the speech, the argumentation and persuasion, tropes, metaphors, epithets, and comparisons made King’s speech one of the most striking in history (Alvarez 323). Most significantly, the speech made an impact in the United States.
Thus, through his politics and this speech, King went down in history with a capital letter and forever. His speeches are recognized as some of the best ones ever made. His quotes are still relevant today and offer hope for a brighter future. They are used by millions of people every day as they continue their civil liberation activities in the struggle for the rights of black citizens.
Work Cited
Alvarez, Alexandra. “Martin Luther King’s” I Have a Dream” The Speech Event as Metaphor.” Journal of Black Studies, vol.18, no.3, 1988, pp. 337-357.
King, Martin Luther. “I Have a Dream.” March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, 1963, Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC.