Rhetorical Analysis Of Civil Rights Speech By Martin Luther King Jr.
This speech was meant for primarily for African Americans and to all who supported the civil rights movement. Martin Luther King Jr would stress the importance of non-violence throughout the movement and mentions it again in this speech staring that they have overcome violence. In this speech King also consistently praises American democracy stating that they can protest because of democracy that they couldn’t do this if they were in a communist nation or a nation run under a dictatorship. This was done to show that the movement, while challenging the values of America is still a pro American movement. It showed that the people part of the movement was still American and still followed American ideas. It was a chance to distance themselves
from being viewed as communist rebels, which was a major issue at the time. In this speech King also tries to connect with the religious people of the United States. He would refer to Rosa Parks as a good Christian woman. They show that they are simply doing fighting for what the deserve by following the teachings of their religion.
King often states that this was the time to fight for their rights and that they must stand up for their rights by using non-violent methods. There were various forms of protests done during the civil rights movement to fight for their rights. One of these forms of protests were the sit ins. This type of protest revolved around students going into a serve only white’s restaurant and sit down to be served. This was meet with extreme violence on the opposite side. Many of the students protesting did not like Martin Luther King as the leader of the civil rights. They believed him to be nothing more than a figure head. Despite his speech stating that it is important to fight for your rights, king was against the sit in protests. He believed that they demanded too much too fast. Although he himself would participate in a sit in later his actions do show how he hesitates to push for his goals.
from being viewed as communist rebels, which was a major issue at the time. In this speech King also tries to connect with the religious people of the United States. He would refer to Rosa Parks as a good Christian woman. They show that they are simply doing fighting for what the deserve by following the teachings of their religion.
King often states that this was the time to fight for their rights and that they must stand up for their rights by using non-violent methods. There were various forms of protests done during the civil rights movement to fight for their rights. One of these forms of protests were the sit ins. This type of protest revolved around students going into a serve only white’s restaurant and sit down to be served. This was meet with extreme violence on the opposite side. Many of the students protesting did not like Martin Luther King as the leader of the civil rights. They believed him to be nothing more than a figure head. Despite his speech stating that it is important to fight for your rights, king was against the sit in protests. He believed that they demanded too much too fast. Although he himself would participate in a sit in later his actions do show how he hesitates to push for his goals.