MLK’s “I Have a Dream” Speech Analysis & Critique
For this assignment you are to view and critique Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. I encourage you
to read the full text of the speech a couple of times before watching it (I’ve posted a transcript of his speech for you to
read over.) Here is some background/context for the speech.
Most important events throughout history are marked by someone giving a speech. We can’t go back in time to 1963, but
by watching Dr. King’s speech we can better understand our past, which helps us make more sense of the present, and
hopefully will motivate us to work on improving our future. Don’t let the grainy footage of the video fool you, this is from
a very recent part of U.S. history. There are still people alive today who lived through the civil rights movement. This
speech was presented in Washington D.C. in August of 1963. 2013 marked the 50th anniversary of the speech.
Dr. King presented this speech in front of the Abraham Lincoln memorial in D.C. He deliberately chose this location as
his backdrop because of Lincoln’s work in signing the Emancipation Proclamation 100 years prior in 1863. The
Emancipation Proclamation changed the federal legal status of more than 3.5 million slaves to “free.” It was the first step
in the process of ending slavery. The US civil war between the Northern (Union) states and the Southern (Confederate)
states took place from 1881-1865. After the confederacy lost the war the constitution was ratified to make major changes
in the US. In 1865, the 13th amendment formally ended and abolished slavery. In 1868, the 14th amendment reinstated
slaves with “full citizenship rights” and guaranteed equal protection of the law for former slaves. In response, the southern
states passed “Jim Crow” laws that allowed racism to perpetuate. “Jim Crow” laws were state and local laws that legally
enforced racial segregation in public places. Yes, they created laws that made it legal to segregate people based on their
race. The justification they gave for this was that it was equal treatment, aka “separate, but equal.” There would be
separate water fountains, restrooms, schools, hospitals, building entrances, elevators, cemeteries, etc. This is where you
would see a label of “for whites only” or “colored” to indicate who was allowed where. Clearly, we all know that
“separate but equal” is in no way actually “equal.”
Dr. King, among many others, was a prominent civil rights leader and activist. He was speaking at an event taking place
in Washington D.C called the “March on Washington.” It is estimated that there were between 200,000-300,000 people in
attendance for his speech – not to mention all of the listeners at home hearing Dr. King’s voice booming out of their radio
or TV. His approach to the civil rights movement was one of peace and non-violence. Notice that he never points the
finger, yells, or displays aggressive anger during his speech. This could turn people off from listening and would
undermine his goal. He was also a preacher and modeled his approach to Civil Rights after Gandhi, who helped to free
India from the British rule. He was a Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Dr. King begins his speech by alluding to Abraham Lincoln’s famous speech, “The Gettysburg Address.” That speech
begins with “Four score and seven years ago…” Dr King states: “5 score years ago (a score is 20 years, so 5 x 20 = 100
years ago) a great American in whose symbolic shadow we stand today (Abraham Lincoln) signed the Emancipation
Proclamation. but….100 years later…” In other words, this was supposed to be sorted out 100 years ago, yet look at
where we are as a country. African Americans might not be slaves any more, but they are definitely not being fairly
treated in the way the Constitution has clearly stated they should be – as full citizens with equal rights and protection
under U.S. laws. Dr. King’s “dream” isn’t his opinion of how the country should be operating. He is simply asking
America to honor what is spelled out for us in our most important texts – the Constitution and our Declaration of
Independence. America isn’t upholding its most fundamental documents.
Your paper should be typed, double spaced, standard margins on all sides, 12 point, Times New Roman font. No need for
a title page. Simply put your name and your word count at the top. Make sure to number your answers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
and 6. Write in complete sentences, not just words, bullet points, or phrases. Don’t re-write the questions. Proofread for
major spelling/grammar issues. It is graded out of 4 points. Your paper should be, at minimum, 500 word count. MAKE
SURE TO PUT YOUR WORD COUNT BY YOUR NAME AT THE TOP! IF YOU DON’T YOU WILL EARN .5
POINTS FOR DIRECTIONS. However, it can be as long as you need it to be. Please be concise.
DO NOT REFERNCE OUTSIDE SOURCES DURING YOUR PAPER. THIS SHOULD BE YOUR OWN ANALYSIS
AND CRITIQUE!
1. When your purpose for speaking is to persuade, you must take into account that there are listeners who oppose your
position. One way to help build relations with people who have differing viewpoints is to establish common ground with
them.
In 1963 there were people in the United States who did not support MLK and the Civil Rights movement. In his speech he
uses a metaphor about coming to the nation's capital to “cash a check.” This “check” promised that “All men would be
guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” He goes on to say: “But America has given
the Negro people a bad check which has come back marked ‘insufficient funds.’ But we refuse to believe that there are
insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation.”
-Explain how/why MLK’s metaphor describing being given a “bad check” is meant to help establish common ground with
all Americans. (*Think about a check from a surface level and a deeper level. What does this “check” really represent?)
2. An allusion is a reference to a well-known person, place, event, or literary work. MLK makes allusions to phrases and
language from important texts such as the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg Address, and the song “My
Country ‘tis of Thee.”
-For what reason(s) do you think he made references to these texts in his speech?
3. MLK repeats phrases such as: “now is the time,” “I have a dream,” and “let freedom ring” a number of times. -Why do
you think he chose to repeat and emphasize parts of his speech? What effect does repetition of a message have?
4. Describe the speaker’s nonverbal delivery. Discuss the use of his BODY
- Personal appearance (How is he dressed/groomed? Why?)
- Eye Contact (Beginning vs. ending - What kind of change do you notice? When does it happen? Why do you think it
happens?)
- Posture/ stance (any distracting movement or mannerisms?)
- When do you see gestures show up? What form do they come in?
- Facial expressions (what kind of look/expression does he have?)
5. Describe the speaker’s nonverbal delivery. Discuss the use of his VOICE. NOT his words!
- Volume and rate (Examine the differences between the beginning and the ending of the speech.)
- Pauses (When does he use them? Why does he use them?)
- Tone/emotion (What kind of emotion do you hear in his voice?)
6. As MLK speaks, he is steadily building toward his powerful ending.
-What is the effect of building towards and ending on such a strong note? Why do you think he ended the speech in this
way?
-How did he want his audience to feel upon concluding his speech? How did you feel?
***Sadly, sometimes when you stand up for a cause as big as Civil Rights you become a target for people trying to stop
you. Dr. King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee is 1968. His legacy, however, lives on. One year after his 1963 “I
Have a Dream” speech the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed. This landmark federal legislation made it illegal for
individual states to discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, religion, and national origin. This helped to finally put an
end to the Jim Crow style behavior of the Southern states. I encourage you to check out other speeches of Dr. King’s
online.
Quality/Quantity- Reflects understanding of the material,
includes relevant content, is well organized and easy to
follow. How thoroughly do you answer the questions? Do
you meet the minimum word count requirement?
2 Good – Thorough in both quality and quantity
1 Fair – Issues with quality and/or quantity
0 Poor – Major issues with quality and/or quantity
Directions – If you don’t
include your word count
you will earn a zero for
directions.
1 Follows all directions
0 Doesn’t follow all
directions
Spelling / Grammar
1 Free from error
0 Errors
Persuasion
1. FROM YOUR TEXTBOOK: briefly define “informative speech.” Then briefly define “persuasion.”
***Please read Chapter 17: Methods of Persuasion DO NOT SEARCH ON THE INTERNET FOR
THE DEFINITIONS – THEY ARE NOT CORRECT. YOU WILL BE TESTED ON THE
DEFINTIONS FROM YOUR TEXTBOOK!
2. Briefly define and explain what “ethos” is.
3. Reflect back on Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Dr. King is viewed as possessing “ethos” in
regard to this speech topic.
Please tell us why, objectively, Dr. King is viewed as “competent,” “trustworthy” and having “good
character” to speak about racism, segregation, and the civil rights movement. Feel free to incorporate
what you know about him as a person/his background and his approach to the civil rights movement.
4. Briefly define and explain what “pathos” is.
5. Provide an example(s) of how/where in his “I Have a Dream” speech Dr. King appeals to the
audience with pathos?
6. Briefly define and explain what “logos” is.
7. Reflect back on Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and provide an example(s) of logos Dr. King
uses to help back up his claim and persuade the audience.
Your paper should be double spaced, standard margins on all sides, 12 point, Times New Roman font.
No need for a title page. Simply put your name and your word count at the top. Number your answers
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6. Write in complete sentences, not just words, bullet points, or phrases. Don’t re-write
the questions. Proofread for major spelling/grammar issues. It is graded out of 4 points. Your paper
should be, at minimum, 350 words. However, it can be as long as you need it to be. MAKE SURE TO
LABEL YOUR WORD COUNT BY YOUR NAME!
Quality/Quantity- Reflects understanding of the
material, includes relevant content, is well organized
and easy to follow. How thoroughly do you answer
the questions? Do you meet the word count
requirement?
2 Good – Thorough in both quality and quantity
1 Fair – Issues with quality and/or quantity
0 Poor – Major issues with quality and/or quantity
Directions
If you don’t label your
word count you will
lose .5 points.
Spelling / Grammar
1 Follows all directions
0 Doesn’t follow all
directions
1 Free from error
0 Errors
Martin Luther King, Jr.
I Have a Dream
Delivered 28 August 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington
D.C.
I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest
demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today,
signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great
beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of
withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life
of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of
discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in
the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is
still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own
land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.
In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of
our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of
Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to
fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men,
would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of
Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note,
insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred
obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come
back marked "insufficient funds."
But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that
there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so,
we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of
freedom and the security of justice.
We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of
Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing
drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. 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 to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to
the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time 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. This sweltering
summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating
autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning.
And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content
will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be
neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights.
The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the
bright day of justice emerges.
But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold
which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we
must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by
drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle
on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to
degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic
heights of meeting physical force with soul force.
The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead
us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by
their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our
destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our
freedom.
We cannot walk alone.
And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.
We cannot turn back.
There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be
satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the
unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our
bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the
highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro's
basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as
long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by signs
stating: "For Whites Only." We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi
cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No,
no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls down like waters,
and righteousness like a mighty stream."1
I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations.
Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from
areas where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of
persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans
of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is
redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina,
go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our
northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.
Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.
And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream.
It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its
creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and
the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of
brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the
heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an
oasis of freedom and justice.
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.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its
governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands
with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain
shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be
made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it
together."2
This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.
With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.
With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a
beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to
pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom
together, knowing that we will be free one day.
And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to
sing with new meaning:
My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died,
land of the Pilgrim's pride, From every mountainside, let freedom ring!
And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.
And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.
Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.
Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.
Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.
But not only that:
Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.
From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from
every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to
speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and
Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of
the old Negro spiritual:
Free at last! Free at last!
Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!
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