Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have A Dream Speech

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The 1960s was a time where many Americans believed was a start of a golden era. The civil rights movement was on the rise as well. “I Have a Dream” is a speech delivered at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963 by Martin Luther King Jr.. “I Have a Dream” speaks up about civil rights and the issues surrounding racism. Five years later, on April 4, 1968, Robert F. Kennedy delivered a speech that announced the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. to the people of Indianapolis, Indiana. His speech calmed the audience and stopped a riot from occurring. King's use of charged language has caused people to feel proud and enthusiastic, while Kennedy's use of poignant statements caused people to feel peaceful and tranquil. …show more content…
gave his “I Have a Dream” speech. An estimate of 250,000 people—both black and white—showed up for his speech. The audience was proud and full of enthusiasm. One such individual who felt these emotions was Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play in the MLB. As stated in the Chicago Defender, he said, “I had never been so proud to be a Negro. I had never been so proud to be an American.” Robinson's statement shows that due to King's speech, he was remarkably proud to be an African American. Another individual who felt these feelings was John F. Kennedy, the current president at the time when "I Have a Dream" was delivered and a supporter for civil rights. Kennedy was at first iffy about the march, as he believed it would bring bad publicity to African Americans. However, after the march he stated, “One cannot help but be deeply impressed with the deep fervor and the quiet dignity [of the demonstrators],” as quoted by The San Diego Union. As said in his quote, he was indeed impressed with how the audience was so enthusiastic and how they held a high amount of