Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the many people who fought for Civil Rights. However, in my opinion, his "I Have A Dream" speech impacted the United States the most. Before his speech, many African-American would not stand up for their rights. They allowed white people to segregate them to very high extents, even with things as simple as not letting them drink from the same water fountain as whites. I think that, unlike Martin Luther, African-Americans were afraid to stand up for their rights because they didn't know that they could actually make a difference. Dr. King's speech opened many people's eyes and inspired them to finally fight for their rights. After his famous speech, the U.S. Civil Rights Act was passed, which promised an end to racial discrimination.
Throughout Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech, there was a series of rhetorical appeals used. Dr. King's speech, in my opinion, was broken up into three parts; a formal beginning to ensure a specific argument, an inspirational middle to uplift the spirits of his fellow African-Americans and to convince them to fight for their rights, and a patriotic ending to inform listeners that he is a true, proud American. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech was not only a plead for freedom against racial segregation, but a demand.
Bravo Lexie! Excellent post!
ReplyDeleteThank you. :)
ReplyDeleteIT WAS GREAT
ReplyDeleteLexie! Hopefully this comment of mine will be a little better than the last one I left you. Your post is very succinct and to the point - which is how these DBQ responses should be. You explained the role that this speech played in the Civil Rights movement and one of its effects (the 1964 Civil Rights Act). Your analysis of the rhetorical appeals is also excellent as it shows how he tried to convince his audience to support his ideas. This is an excellent start Lexie - with practice you'll take these DBQs to a whole new level!
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