TOW #19- Nonfiction: "I Have A Dream"

When most people dream, they picture themselves in a situation where all of their wildest desires and fears come to life. However, every now and then, someone holds a dream so great and so powerful, that it has the potential to change the world. There is no moment more memorable in Civil Rights history than that which occurred on August 28th, 1963. Upon the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, African-American civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered him "I have a dream" speech to over 250,00 people attending the March on Washington for jobs and freedom. Throughout the speech, King uses a number of rhetorical devices including repetition, allusions and civil metaphors in order to captivate the audience and inspire them to continue to fight for equality and justice. Martin Luther King Jr. uses numerous repetitive phrases in an effort to unify and rumble the audience. First is his "100 years later" repetition in which he says that phrase and follows it will multiple examples of "negro" hardships that existed 100 years prior and were still around throughout the mid 20th

century. This monotonous phrase forces the viewer to understand the obstacles that many African-Americans must face everyday and make them seem like a never ending series of trauma. It shows them that there is still a long ways to go, but the problem is present and needs to be addressed. Next is his famous allusion to Abraham Lincoln beginning his speech with, "five score years ago". Then going on to discuss Abe Lincoln himself and his goals in signing the Emancipation Proclamation. He uses this refererence to "a great American" like Licoln to show that this is a cause that men have been fighting for for ages, great men who have done spectacular things and he wants the audience to see that this cause is no different. Finally, King's use of metephors gives the viewer a better reference to the struggle. He compares the justice system to a bank which he "refuses to believe is bankrupt" and in which he, and all of his supporters have come to "cash their own checks for justice". This is not only an inspiring statement, it is an extremely liberating statement which makes all viewers feel like they have a cause and justified means. Dr. King's monumental speech not only changes the lives of African Americans in his time, but he also changed the lives of so many others to this day. The astronomical effects his speech had on civil rights, education, politics, and so much more in this world today overwhelmingly proved that "dreams" truly can become reality.