mlk speech

mlk speech

The Power of MLK’s Speech

1. Introduction

In the introduction of “The Power of MLK’s Speech”, Carolyn Calloway-Thomas first eloquently describes the emotional draw to Martin Luther King Jr.’s words and his striking immediacy and relevancy to today’s continuing civil rights struggle. She stresses the pertinence of King’s words in this post-September 11th modern world and of the abilities of his speeches to make us reflect on our country’s political directions and moral issues. Furthermore, she asserts the necessity of communication in a pioneering democracy, of language’s ability to damage or enhance a national unity, and of the interconnectivity of language with the endeavors to obtain peace and social justice. Raja’s analysis of language in King’s Birmingham protest letters further strengthens these questions of intent, effect, and unity. He compares King’s thoughtful, precise rhetoric to the rash rhetoric of certain extremist opponents in the civil rights struggle; aiming to prove the political power and urgency of his own cause. By questioning the necessity of King’s demonstrations in their interruption of ‘normal’ legal proceedings and heated debates, and their tendency to provoke violence from opposing groups—Raja addresses the attempts of communication and the contentious battle to have his opponents understand of his cause, which King viewed as bettering an enemy’s attitude towards him.

2. MLK’s Vision for Equality

In these pivotal paragraphs, King lays out his vision of a truly equal America. He sees a nation that has taken its first shaky steps away from legalized segregation, but a nation that has a long way to go before it has truly achieved equality. The measures taken to dismantle segregation he sees as a great step, and one that will provide some of the needed tools for equality, but he underscores these points by saying, “One hundred years later the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity” (267). In reality it has only been 100 years since the freedom of the slaves and King sees the next phase of equality taking at least that long to come to fruition. This is contingent on the second class citizen being able to vote and by having northerners understand the plight of the Negro people. King envisions southern black voters being able to send to congress “God fearing men with ethical and moral principles” (268). His dream takes a turn for the very worst when he comes to consider the reality of many African Americans today. They have suffered through so much oppression and violence that many have become bitter and violent themselves. King views black militancy as the biggest obstacle in the quest for equality. This is a far cry from the vision King has, a vision of blacks and whites working together to solve problems peaceably. In an unsettling forecast King fears that there will be little substantial progress until an impending catastrophe or the idea of “massive nonviolent resistance” (269). It is at a time like this that King knows his dream of equality, with its foundations in both the Declaration of Independence and the Emancipation Proclamation, will finally come to pass. In short, King’s dream is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. He envisions a new America; a land of true freedom and equality. An America where all people, regardless of race or creed, can live together as brothers. This is a dream that is yet to be realized, but thanks to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his unwavering stance it is a dream that is still alive today.

3. Impact of MLK’s Speech on Civil Rights Movement

It is not an overstatement to say that Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech changed the course of United States history. It inspired Alabama to secede from the union, it led to the creation of the first and second reconstructions, it pushed the United States to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and it led to the Chicago, Cleveland, and Los Angeles of ghetto schools. As July Perry said, “The speech and the actions that followed were like an electric shock to the very spirit of America,” which resulted in the changing course of the nation’s race relations. Dr. King’s masterful use of the English language, his leadership during the bus boycotts, his courage in the face of immense adversity, and the creation of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference all gave him the credibility and respect to bring about change. Noting the speech was the most powerful and influential. All other events continued the incremental change already in progress, his speech on the other hand, brought change that was immediate and universal.

The immediate success of the speech was tremendous. A Gallup poll taken in 1963 showed that almost 75% of Americans were aware of the speech and agreed with its goals. The growing unrest in the South led to a major victory in the Birmingham campaign where King was able to use nonviolent protest and civil disobedience to bring attention to the inhumanity of segregationism, and to prompt nationwide media coverage that led to national support for desegregation and the civil rights movement. Alabama had begun taking steps toward desegregation, and the government was slowly being pressured to take action in favor of civil rights. King was Time magazine’s Man of the Year for 1963, and in 1964 became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. King was very humbled by this, dedicating his newfound fame and money right back into the civil rights movement. However, there was still opposition to change, and with the support of newly elected President Lyndon Johnson, King was seeking to sway public support toward the passing of the Civil Rights Act when a tragedy occurred. Elected in 1965, Governor Wallace refused to integrate the University of Alabama as was ordered by a federal court. In what has become known as “The Stand in the Schoolhouse Door,” Wallace personally blocked the door to the enrollment of African American students, ultimately stepping aside only after federal marshals and the National Guard were called in. This despicable act of resistance to change was the turning point, as King put it, in the Civil Rights displayed the ugly depth of resistance and futility of the resistance to the continued ascension of the Negro. At this time, he was calling the nation’s attention to its push toward voting, which he referred to as being “long overdue.” What arose was the Watts riots, a display of social and political uprising by the African American community that showed frustration at the slow rate of desegregation and change. King wanted to lead the community down a different path, hoping that they would turn away from violent means and not yet ready to give up on desegregation and become an independent entity. The black community was ripe for King’s call to vote. This riot was the last stand for advocates of nonviolence, and King hoped to use the other acts of the civil rights movement and the effect of the violence to sway white support and public support of presidential action toward the furthering of desegregation and the protection of the Negro protester. The Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965, and with that, the speech had brought results that changed the nation and the status of the African American community forever.

4. Rhetorical Techniques Used by MLK

The use of symbolism is effective in that it creates a strong link to previous forms of writing encompassing civil rights issues. Symbolism is where an object is used to make an idea clearer. King uses a few symbols, notably the freeing a man from prison. “Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.” This symbol represents the need to lift the nation from racial injustice to complete unity and allow equality to grow. Another strong symbolic message is that of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. King says “One hundred years later the Negro is still not free.” The Emancipation Proclamation is used as a symbol for an unfulfilled promise. By offering this speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, King also creates a strong link to Lincoln’s work on eradicating slavery with clear possible inferences that he is attempting to persuade the government to continue Lincoln’s work for the purpose of genuine racial equality.

4. Symbolism

One important form of metaphor use is graphic imagery. The author’s language reveals visual evidence that produces a powerful impact in the mind of the reader or listener. King uses imagery to create a picture of a better America. “With this faith, we will be able to hew out of a mountain of despair a stone of hope.” This image is a strong one and shows how they can obtain hope from depression. “Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.” This is a powerful image to the black man who has faced much indignity in Georgia. Ringing from Stone Mountain is significant as it is the birthplace of the modern KKK and the site of a lynching of a black man. Using imagery also blends into the use of similes and metaphors. The speech is full of comparisons or ways to visualize an idea. These greatly aid understanding and also provide strong analogies that are easily remembered. “America has given the Negro people a bad check” is a clear metaphor that contrasts the promise and failure of true racial equality. King goes on to explain this analogy to make sure it is not forgotten.

3. Metaphors, Similes and Imagery

The most famous part of the speech at Lincoln Memorial where King made his speech was towards the end. King spoke the words that were to become the most famous words of the speech. “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” This line in the speech is a representation of an anaphora. An anaphora is repeating a sequence of words at the beginnings of neighboring clauses, thereby lending them emphasis. Anaphora is a device that dates back to the ancient Greeks. It is a deliberate form of repetition and helps make the writing more memorable. This is used in very few places in the speech and is Hersberg’s only criticism of the speech and only because he believes the anaphora can be overdone. King also uses the device of antistrophe which is repeating the same word at the end of each clause. This is a form of repetition but it is used subtly and done well.

2. Anaphora

Rhetorical techniques used by MLK

5. MLK’s Legacy and Continuing Relevance

MLK’s effectiveness in altering the course of history during his relatively brief and tragic career has acted as a testament to the power of nonviolent civil disobedience. Prior to Dr. King’s ascendancy, advances in African American civil rights had been achieved almost exclusively through legal channels, and though these had required great effort, they were limited in their effectiveness. The bold, moral assertion of human rights and the use of nonviolent tactics to defy an oppressive government, though certainly not original, had never been demonstrated in such a public and pervasive manner prior to King. MLK’s success at pushing for change in government policy and ensuring equal treatment for black Americans via nonviolent civil disobedience heavily influenced the tactics of various civil rights movements throughout the world, in places such as Eastern Europe and the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. The success of these movements, often directly attributed to MLK’s influence, has served to underline his legacy as a leader who was able to change the world.