Pathos In I Have A Dream Speech

In Martin Luther King Jr’s, “I Have a Dream” speech, he mainly relies on pathos by using loaded language to invoke anger among the audience. He evidently uses relatable content that resonates with the audience and delivers his speech in such a manner that the victims of oppression are reminded of the struggles they faced. For instance, in the quote, “One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land.” MLK Jr speaks in reference to the Emancipation Proclamation — which states the freedom of all slaves — and emphasizes that even after a hundred years, African Americans still feels oppressed in their own land. This emotionally appeals to the audience because it
infuriates them that something that they once put their faith in is no longer supporting them. By using phrases such as, “exile in his own land” MLK Jr uses strong language to show no progress has been made. Similarly, in the statement, “[...] quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering.” MLK Jr highlights the segregation black people faced to attain freedom by using powerful words such as, “battered by the storms”, “staggered by the winds” and “veterans”. His use of words paints an image in the audience’s mind which only further intensifies their anger. Especially when looking at the word “veteran”, it is a patriotic term used for a person who has served in the military, however, in this speech, the term holds negative connotations of long-term suffering and an enduring punishment. These are exemplary instances as to how Martin Luther King Jr uses pathos to appeal to his audience. He persuades them emotionally, providing a surge of anger towards the injustice black people face. This anger propels the audience to fight for freedom even after MLK Jr passes away.