Martin Luther King

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Martin Luther King

• I Have A Dream 1963

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ARGUMENT (1)

• We come together to demonstrate for freedom
• Once we were emancipated from slavery
• Emancipation had given us great hope
• But hope has not been realized
• We are still not free, we still suffer
• We come to Washington to protest this injustice
• Our nations sacred texts underwrite our cause
• Yet now our nation has wronged us

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ARGUMENT (2)

• We do not give up
• It is high time for change
• The need for change is urgent
• We mean business
• America will have no rest until justice is done
• We must achieve justice peacefully
• We join with many white brothers/sisters
• Black and White must walk together
• There is no resolution until full justice is done
• Go home in faith there will be equality, an end
  to discrimination.
• With faith we will achieve

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ARGUMENT (3)

• Basic Logic
• (We all agree this is a nation of high principles
  and the rule of law that laws should reflect
  principles)
• We belong to this nation, have full entitlement
  to its promised benefits and protections
• Yet we suffer (from laws that fall long short of
  this nations principles)
• (Our suffering, dignity and peace confirm our
  deserving)
• Therefore, it is just and necessary that our
  wrongs be put right by the application of
  principle to law.

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SOURCE

• Has shown himself worthy of respect in the eyes
  of both black and white
• Commands the attention of a crowd of over 200,000
  people
• Has particularly strong bonds with the black
  people and their suffering
• Is black, has suffered with his people
• Is a righteous man of God, Church, principle
• His is not self-interest, but interest in the
  welfare of all the people, black and white

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STYLE AND AFFECT (1)

• SENSE OF DRAMA e.g. this day is the greatest
  demonstration for freedom in nations history
  heightens emotion, expectancy
• VOCABULARY OF DRAMA freedom nation life,
  liberty and the pursuit of happiness
• BIBLICAL and RELIGIOUS language and references
  suggest a sense of the (religious) SACRED
• REFERENCES to DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE,
  CONSTITUTION, ACT OF EMANCIPATION invoke nations
  (secular) SACRED (NARRATIVES) TEXTS

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STYLE AND AFFECT (2)

• EXCLUSIVE INTERTEXTUALITY e.g. Free at last
  words of old negro spiritual establish links to
  shared history, culture and traditions
  sermonizing style
• INCLUSIVE INTERTEXTUALITY, references to texts
  shared by both black and white, the American
  Dream, the uniquely different but treasured
  states of the nation, to members of different
  religions
• REPETITIVE STRUCTURES serve to drive argument,
  heighten emotion e.g. one hundred years later,
  now is the time, we can never be satisfied,
  go back, let freedom ring.

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STYLE AND AFFECT (3)

• CONTRASTS joyous day break..long night of
  captivity, quick sands..solid rock,
  sweltering summer..invigorating Autumn,
  desolate valley..sunlit path." physical
  force..soul force
• METAPHOR tranquilizing drug of gradualism,
  cash a checkpromissory notedefaultedbank of
  justice.
• REFERENCE TO JOURNEYS, real and metaphorical
• REFERENCE TO POWER, both negative and positive
• INVOCATIONS OF PAST, SHARED SUFFERING
• PROMISE OF REDEMPTION through suffering, dignity
  and faith, a redemption that is also inter-racial
  and inter-generational (4 children)