Martin Luther King Jr. "I Have A Dream" Text Analysis
The speech "I Have A Dream" was written by Martin Luther King Jr. in response to the acts of violence and oppression of the African American people in the United States in the 1960s. Throughout his speech, MLK addresses his audience of the oppressed and encourages them to come together and peacefully fight against the discrimination and former laws put in place to continue the oppression, that people were continuing to use against the African American community.
Such laws were addressed in the speech, such as the Emancipation Proclamation, stating "Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, sighed the emancipation Proclamation." This quote not only addressed the law setting slaves free, expressing the thought that even though the African Americans are no longer slaves, they are not free as they should be by law, proving the laws are not being upheld and respected when in relation to equality; and that people have strayed from their founding Americans. MLK presented the speech in an area symbolic of freedom and hardships in American history, showing that in many ways, things are legally better, but said laws and history are not respected. The area in which the speech was given then noted, including the law that is associated with this location, was done to show to not only the audience of the oppressed but those who are discriminating. MLK is encouraging change in everyone.
MLK also uses many other ways to get his message of change across to the masses. Towards the end of the speech, he continuously uses the phrase "Let freedom ring" 6 times, each time addressing a different part of the United States. This is an example of anaphora, emphasizing on the point that he is trying to make; throughout the entirety of the United Stated, everyone is equal and the laws in place should be followed. The phrase "Let freedom ring", was deliberately used to evoke a scene of unity and pride for the U.S., as is known as an important part of America; a county build on freedom and equality. This technique continues to push across not only American history but the theme of equality and community that is so important in the fight for equal rights among the African American community.
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