Rhetorical Analysis Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Speech

When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote this part of his speech he intended to deliver a message instilling rebellion in his audience. Recognizing that no one likes to be talked down to, his is use of words that were not commonly used by those he spoke to, were carefully crafted to convey a feeling of respect for his audience. Because he was a Baptist pastor, he freely uses biblical references. Through the use of negative terms such as “yolk of oppression” and “negative freedom” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. discounted options to what he terms as “peaceful resistance”. Such resistance is, according to him, different from passivity and he explains how this is not the same as acceptance of oppression. Mid speech, Dr. King allows the speech the
opportunity to soften with words of peace, love, and brotherhood. Despite using the term “African American” to describe his audience, his use of the negative term “Negro” is used several times in the closing paragraphs of his speech. Here is used to strengthen the resolve of his listeners to change their current situation. Commonality according to Martin Luther King comes not from their skin color, but from similarities within the group as he replaces the word “Negro” this time with the word “racial” encouraging solidarity within his audience.