The Speaking Style of Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. gave one of the most well-known and famous speeches on August 28, 1963. Black Americans were protesting because segregation at this time was at its all time peak. Two hundred-fifty thousand people gathered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to witness this historical act, which was a turning point in the fight for racial equality. This speech was important during this time, not only to the black community, but also civil rights activists around the country. It was memorable to the public then, and still is today because of his powerful language and deliverance technique. His style was influenced by the fact that he had a background as a Baptist preacher. As he speaks he uses a strong and convincing tone of voice to clearly justify his sentences and place emphasis on the high points. King drew in the audience by making his speech relatable, just like any good speaker does. He used language and phrases that his audience would understand and connect with. King had to speak to a diverse audience of people ranging from everyday workers, to politicians. This meant that King was challenged with addressing an audience filled with different kinds of people, so he had to appeal to various backgrounds. Also, King added historical elements to this speech as well. He pulled in language used from a speech that Abraham Lincoln had given in the Gettysburg Address. This held a metaphorical purpose in King’s speech and was, in my opinion, an interesting addition. King’s tone of voice was motivational and could call anyone to action. Even though I was not there to witness his “I had a dream” speech, I still believe that this would have impacted me greatly if I would have been back in this time. Just watching this speech motivated me; however, this speech does not affect me in a great way today. I understand the meaning and impact that this speech deliverance had during its time period, but I grew up in a small town, so racial
Martin Luther King Jr. gave one of the most well-known and famous speeches on August 28, 1963. Black Americans were protesting because segregation at this time was at its all time peak. Two hundred-fifty thousand people gathered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to witness this historical act, which was a turning point in the fight for racial equality. This speech was important during this time, not only to the black community, but also civil rights activists around the country. It was memorable to the public then, and still is today because of his powerful language and deliverance technique. His style was influenced by the fact that he had a background as a Baptist preacher. As he speaks he uses a strong and convincing tone of voice to clearly justify his sentences and place emphasis on the high points. King drew in the audience by making his speech relatable, just like any good speaker does. He used language and phrases that his audience would understand and connect with. King had to speak to a diverse audience of people ranging from everyday workers, to politicians. This meant that King was challenged with addressing an audience filled with different kinds of people, so he had to appeal to various backgrounds. Also, King added historical elements to this speech as well. He pulled in language used from a speech that Abraham Lincoln had given in the Gettysburg Address. This held a metaphorical purpose in King’s speech and was, in my opinion, an interesting addition. King’s tone of voice was motivational and could call anyone to action. Even though I was not there to witness his “I had a dream” speech, I still believe that this would have impacted me greatly if I would have been back in this time. Just watching this speech motivated me; however, this speech does not affect me in a great way today. I understand the meaning and impact that this speech deliverance had during its time period, but I grew up in a small town, so racial