Martin Luther King Speech Rhetorical Analysis

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Martin Luther King Jr. addresses the oppression African Americans face after they were forced to come to this country and after two hundred fifty years of slavery, have still not seen equality. America has promised a great life for all it's people but African Americans are being excluded.
King uses historical references to help build this argument. The reference to “Emancipation Proclamation”, “Declaration of Independence” and “the Constitution” represents a shared value of all Americans, therefore connecting his audience in one accord. The refernce also alludes that Blacks were not included in the majority to seek “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” or have their “unalienable rights” protected. This appeals to the audience’s sense