SUMMATIVE

ASSESSMENT:
ANALYSING TEXTS

Excerpt of Martin Luther Kings I have a Dream speech

by Lucia Causape

Civil Rights Movement

Nearly 100 years after the Civil War, the African

Americans civil rights were limited by state laws
and discrimination, segregation was legal
It was the struggle of African Americans 19541968 to achieve same civil rights as Whites,
including: equal opportunities in employment,
the right of equal access to public facilities, equal
rights in education and housing, the right to vote,
the right to be free of racial discrimination and of
being treated inhumanely
Many boycotts, speeches, marches took place
leader: Martin Luther King Jr.

March on Washington

March on Washington took place 28th August 1963

largest demonstration which had ever occurred in
the nations capital (Washington DC)
about 250,000 people were present
African-Americans marched for jobs and freedom
for all citizens since the country was going
through a racist, discriminative time against Black
people and had to deal with segregation in the
1960s
one of the first events to have extensive television
coverage

Martin Luther King Jr.

birth name: Michael King Jr.
born 15th January 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States
assassinated 4th April 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee, United
States, by James Earl Ray by a snipers bullet, while standing
on a balcony outside his room at the Lorraine Motel
American Baptist minister, activist, humanitarian and leader
in the African-American Civil Rights Movement
spouse: Coretta Scott King (1953-1968), 4 children: Martin
Luther King III, Yolanda King, Bernice King and Dexter Scott
King
played important role in creation of Civil Rights Act of 1964
and Voting Rights Act of 1965
was awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, among other honors

Background
Information about
the I have a Dream
speech

public speech given by Martin Luther King at the

March on Washington in 1963
King calls for an end to racism in the United States
with his speech
delivered to over 250, ooo civil rights supporters
from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial
King described his dreams of freedom and equality
arising from a nation full of hatred and slavery
ranked top American speech of the 20th century in
a 1999 poll of scholars of public address

ExCerPt of I have a Dream

by Martin Luther King Jr.
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, that one day right down 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, 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.
This is our hope. This is the faith that I will 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.

Why did I choose

this text?

because Im aware of the impact it caused upon the Civil Rights Movement
the speech opened my eyes to the clear unfairness of segregation, as well as
many others
it taught me and led me to understand that appearance should never
determine how you are treated, the way you are allowed to live your life, the
decisions you can take or how loud your voice can be
very powerful piece of writing
shows the only solution to finding a path across the void of racism and
discrimination was by having equal rights for everyone, regardless of what
race

Why do I think its a good

representation of the field of
conflict I am researching?

its ideal, because its a worldwide known speech by civil rights leader
Martin Luther King Jr. during the March on Washington in 1963
shows the desire, feelings and thoughts of the African American citizens at
that time
sets the goals the Black population outlined for the nations near future law
wise and their plan of action
consequences: a free, better, racism-free country in noticeable ways, for
instance: made world a more equal and fair place, helped ensure that
minorities have a voice too and that they are never alone or ignored

Analysing the excerpt

of I have a Dream by
MLK

~~~Analyzing~~~

was written in a hopeful, criticizing, ambitious, angry,

emotional and impacting way, which helped/ helps
readers understand unfairness of racism & what it felt
like to be treated inferiorly and worse because of skin
color

is made up of 9 small paragraphs, many stops between

words and phrases ( which gave audience time to
linger on his words, reflect on them, take them all in
slowly and relate to his points and arguments): pauses
catch readers attention, left them in awe &
anticipation, gave more meaning and a mysterious
mood

~~~Analyzing~~~
Literary Devices

many to be found, most obvious are: metaphors, personifications and

anaphors
anaphora: I have a dream most noticeable; at beginning of each
paragraph; makes speech, title & purpose memorable for audience, by
making readers/listeners conscious of fact that its a very crucial phrase in
understanding of speech; word dream indicates deep wishes, which arent
easily achievable & complicated to keep faith in, a race of your imagination,
positive & hopeful desire); indications of hope other than word dream: one
day (in that context it suggests hope), hope, faith

~~~Analyzing~~~
Literary Devices

metaphor: With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair
a stone of hope author stated that hope was always available, even in worst
of cases; King motivated people to keep trying & stand up for themselves
(and their civil rights), by using term of mountain (as it is extremely bigger
than human being), which could lead to mean that all Blacks should stick
together as one big family to reach their goals & achieve shared dreams;
metaphor because: due to it being surrealistic (because mountain of despair
& stone of hope dont exist)

~~~Analyzing~~~

Literary Devices

diction: I have a dream that one day even the state

of Mississippi, a state of sweltering with the heat of
injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will
be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice
because: 2 words with same meaning: injustice
& oppression; phrase referred to hell-like
situation: sweltering with heat, which resulted in
heavenly solution: oasis (because for example:
you are stuck under blazing sun in desert and
one day you come across oasis, you will consider
this wonderful miracle), expresses: Blacks
consider racism-free country a miracle

~~~Analyzing~~~

Literary Devices

personification & and also epigraph: 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. author
stated nations faults, which King completely blamed on Whites, for
breaking their own promises & rules, author (MLK Jr.) showed anger
towards them (Whites); personification because: a nation cant rise
or live in real life, was written so to add liveliness to speech;
epigraph because: quoted last sentence We hold these truths to be
self-evident; that all mean were created equal. came from Declaration
of Independence of USA, famous phrase by Thomas Jefferson which
had never been fulfilled due to slavery, racism, legal discrimination,
but MLK wanted to see it justified and raised awareness that the
Whites themselves had been fine with equality and had then
betrayed their country by start of trafficking of African slaves

~~~Analyzing~~~

Literary Devices

metaphor: I have a dream that one day every valley

shall be exalted, 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. author was paraphrasing Isaiah
40:4 in catholic Bible, which prophesized what
world will look like after Kingdom of God has been
brought down to Earth by Messiah (Jesus Christ);
indicates MLK Jr. was catholic; author considered
his dream of racism-free country like heaven on
Earth, an amazing miracle, and as it happened in
Bible, it will eventually also occur in USA

~~~Analyzing~~~

author had special meaning for brotherhood & sisterhood in speech: he connected it with peace,
therefore it took important role 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.
MLK used children, as they are usually the weak point of everyones thoughts and feelings, to help
realize importance of equality (for future generation), even referred to his own children 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 shows how deeply he desired to see change,
in order for his own family to be happy, found it disgustingly unbelievable that Black children
grow up fed on criticism against them and their families by Whites; I have a dream that one day [...]
little black boys and little black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and little white girls.
another example of children being used to gain understanding of audience; used word little to
express innocency and how little they deserved that fate and future

~~~Analyzing~~~

author named 3 states of USA: Georgia, Alabama &

Mississippi as examples of places, where segregation
was big issue, criticized these states very much, 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 [...]. evident
that MLK had personal issues with this state (he was
arrested there for taking part in a big protest, in which
police killed many civil rights supporters); Georgia:
place of birth so daily problems and discrimination,
lot of experience; Mississippi: unknown

~~~Analyzing~~~

2 times in excerpt of speech: I have a dream today. included

in separate paragraph lets audience reflect on his words
and leaves big impact on them; suggests that King wanted to
take action NOW & wanted segregation problem finished
NOW; didnt consider racism-free country long-term plan
or impossible dream; by using word today: was showing
determination & discreetly asking if the segregation problem
could be fixed tomorrow thus saying it was possible for
there to be instant changes in society if White community
acknowledged and learned from their mistakes

Thanks for watching!!! Any

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