Rhetorical Devices In I Have A Dream Speech

Martin Luther King, Jr, was amongst the greatest nonviolent leaders in world history and had influential participation in the African American Civil Rights movement. One of the more significant ways Martin Luther King Jr. was able to bring about a change for African Americans was by motivating his audience during rallies, by delivering great rhetorical speeches. He brought about awareness to the nation and his followers with his speech “I Have a Dream,” delivered on 28 August 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. He connected with his listeners through the rhetorical appeals Karios, Telos, Ethos, Logos, and Pathos. King’s speech is most remembered because it proved such a crucial step towards the advancement on the civil rights movement. The “I Have a Dream” speech serves as a prominent piece of historical rhetoric, of effective and persuasive Kairos more than any of the other
(My Lord) Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time [applause] to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time [applause] to make justice a reality for all of God’s children. It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment.” (King, “I Have A Dream”)
Dr. King demonstrated Telos, the particular purpose or attitude of a speech (Sproat, "Aristotle's Rhetorical Situation"), with his “I Have a Dream” speech by calling for a non-violent, peaceful movement to address racial bias and discrimination. He was seeking equality and freedom for all, regardless of an individual’s tone of skin. Dr. King was able to make great strides with his speech by bringing about unity in the country from African Americans and European American sympathizers. He also bought about awareness to many during a time in history that change was greatly needed to seek freedom for African