Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream Speech"

In his speech, Martin Luther King Jr. gives a stirring call for equality in America. This message was particularly bold for the racially charged environment of the 1960's. However, through effective oratory, language that boarders on the poetic, and a direct message of kindness, King was able to change many people's opinion on race. While things have become drastically better, King's full vision has not been realized in the world today.

King attempts to win over his audience through several rhetorical devices. At the beginning, King creates an ethical appeal by echoing the words of Lincoln. While King references Lincoln directly through the Emancipation Proclamation, he also alludes to him a little more subtly (King 1). His use of "five score years ago" directly parallels the " four score and seven years ago" of Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address." After setting this premise, King continues his argument by stating that African Americans deserve and are entitled to the same rights as Caucasians. King notes freedom, liberty, and equality are given to all American citizens as fleshed out in the Constitution (1). However, King continues by stating that society should not only push for freedom because of the American government, which makes such a grandiose promise of freedom. Rather society should push for freedom in order to "make justice a reality for all of God's children" (1). It is society's obligation because it is moral and right. Conscience, not tradition, should lead society. While such a task is certainly daunting, King suggests through faith "we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope" (2). To King, steady work and perseverance ensure the movement for equality. The monumental work King is trying to spur on can only be achieved by simple, but strong, faith.

While society has advanced, through the work of King and others, the world is far from an equal place. Yet society has also reached a point where equality can not be achieved through laws. The racism of today manifests itself in individuals. Likewise, respect must be taught through individuals. King's insistence in the morality of equality and simple faith, however, still remain as an impetus to fight injustice in the world of today.