Introduction
The “I Have a Dream” speech by Dr Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) became the prime example of an oratorial masterpiece and the symbol of the Civil Rights Movement. Since childhood, King had the privilege of having access to more information since both of his parents were well-educated and taught him about racial discrimination in the United States (Fishman, 2019). His dream of creating the non-violent freedom movement likely stemmed from how King’s mother talked about slavery and inequality (Saghir, Qasim, and Sibtain 2020). “I Have a Dream” is still perceived as one of the most influential and history-altering speeches ever because it inspired people to fight for their rights peacefully.
Biography
King’s family and childhood were a foundation for him to acquire knowledge and develop a strong opinion about racism. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1929, in a family of a pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church (Fishman, 2019). The boy learned about slavery and racism first from his parents and then from real-life examples when King was told that he could not attend the same school as his white friends (Fishman, 2019). Furthermore, from early childhood, King could experience segregation between whites and blacks in public places (Fishman, 2019).
Therefore, in the 1950s, he started a peaceful movement against these discriminatory rules (Saghir, Qasim, and Sibtain, 2020). King’s activism enabled the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act, allowing millions of people of color to legally have the same rights as white people (Saghir, Qasim, and Sibtain 2020). Moreover, MLK’s movement brought the international community’s attention, allowing him to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 (Saghir, Qasim, and Sibtain 2020). However, the most influential African American of that time was assassinated in 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee.
Speech Analysis
“I Have a Dream” represented the voice of all suppressed African Americans who could not legally protect themselves against racial discrimination during that time. The speech begins with the historical fact of signing the Emancipation Proclamation and the role of Abraham Lincoln in freeing enslaved black Americans (King, 1963). King laments that “100 years later, the Negro still is not free” and “the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by … the chains of discrimination” (King 1963, para. 2).
Furthermore, he refers to the Constitution of the United States, where all people are claimed to be equal, and individuals of color should not be an exception (King, 1963). Dr King claims that the nation should not be satisfied until all black individuals stop being disrespected and discriminated against. In the middle of the speech, he also states his dream of the times when black and white children could play together without fear of being judged (King, 1963). This statement likely developed from King’s childhood experience when his white friends could no longer communicate with him and go to the same schools.
In this speech, King reflected on his idea that the American nation would not be able to be great unless the “dream” became true. He claims that when all citizens, regardless of race, ethnicity, or religion, are able to unite and have common hopes and goals, the country will rise as well (King, 1963). Notably, the tone and voice of the speaker are assertive because King wanted to channel his firm belief that such times will inevitably come, giving robust hope to his listeners (Saghir, Qasim, and Sibtain 2020).
Dr. King’s speech is filled with imperative statements that intend to call people to action (Saghir, Qasim, and Sibtain, 2020). At the same time, Martin Luther implemented negative polarity to evoke internal aversion of his listeners to the situation when black and white individuals were segregated.
Along with eliciting the need to act and protect their rights, the “I Have a Dream speech” plants a seed of hope in the minds of its listeners. Millions of Americans believed that King’s dream of the times when all Americans would be genuinely equal was theirs, too. The tone of his voice and affirmative statements allow people not to be afraid of such a future (Saghir, Qasim, and Sibtain, 2020).
Another possible explanation for King’s speech being impactful was that the author heavily used personal pronouns like “we” and “you” to highlight that this dream is common to all Americans (Saghir, Qasim, and Sibtain 2020). Overall, King was able to assimilate with the pain and frustration of African Americans at that time to not only make them sympathize with him but also to follow Dr King in this freedom movement.
Conclusion
In summary, one of the most powerful speeches of all time, Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream,” motivated people of color to fight for their rights in their own country. The impact of this speech is not only in its content, which briefly guides listeners through history and offers a series of declarative sentences, but also in the way King delivered it. He made necessary pauses, used the appropriate tone of voice, and showed, utilizing personal pronouns, that it was a shared vision. Dr. King articulates in this speech that the country should admit it is time for changes and be prepared for the new social order.
References
Fishman, Jon M. 2019. Martin Luther King Jr.: Walking in the Light. Lerner Publications.
King, Martin Luther, Jr. 1963. “I Have a Dream.” Transcript of speech delivered at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC, 1963. Web.
Saghir, Fariha, Hafiz Muhammad Qasim, and Masroor Sibtain. 2020. “‘I Have A Dream’: An Interpersonal Metafunction Analysis of Martin Luther King Jr.’S Speech.” Ilkogretim Online 19 (4): 6999-7014.