Skip to main content

What are the issues of substantiation in the Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech?

In his "I Have a Dream" speech, Martin Luther King, Jr. relies heavily on ethical (ethos) and emotional (pathos) appeals. That being the case, not many facts are clearly presented in the speech; rather, they are mainly only implied. Since these facts are only implied, not many facts presented in the speech can really be disputed. King does use hyperbole, meaning exaggeration, to speak of at least one implied fact.In his speech,...

In his "I Have a Dream" speech, Martin Luther King, Jr. relies heavily on ethical (ethos) and emotional (pathos) appeals. That being the case, not many facts are clearly presented in the speech; rather, they are mainly only implied. Since these facts are only implied, not many facts presented in the speech can really be disputed. King does use hyperbole, meaning exaggeration, to speak of at least one implied fact.

In his speech, King makes an implied reference to Black Nationalism when he warns his audience, "The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people." In speaking of militancy, King is making an implied reference to Black Nationalism, an ideal represented by the Black Muslims, who were led by Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm X. Black Nationalists were in favor of complete separation from whites — even a return to Africa — and supported the use of violence to achieve their goals.

What's rhetorically fascinating is that King hyperbolically refers to Black Nationalism by speaking of the "new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community." The word engulf means to "swallow up" or "submerge" completely (Random House Dictionary). Only 15% of the African-American population of the 1950s and 60s associated themselves with Black Nationalism, though; the majority of African Americans opposed separatism and supported the nonviolent means to achieve freedom promoted by King and the NAACP ("Black Nationalism and Black Power," Digital History, University of Houston).

Facts King makes implied references to that cannot be disputed concern the extent of segregation and the racist words of Alabama Governor George Wallace, who, in his 1963 inaugural address, called for "segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is hyperbole in the story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his... The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him plu
Post a Comment
Read more

How can I analyze Moon and Six Pence by Somerset Maugham?

In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of... In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of that society. His decision to e
Post a Comment
Read more

What are some literary devices in Macbeth, Act V, Scene 1?

Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not... Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh! oh, oh! (5.1.53-55) Hyperbole - Obvious exaggeration  There is also h
Post a Comment
Read more