Rahman 1

Dylan Rahman
Professor Collins
ENGL 1302
22 February 2016
MLKs Desire for Equality
Martin Luther King is a famous civil rights activists that strived for equality in America.
He is notoriously known for his I Have a Dream speech that he delivered at the Lincoln
Memorial in 1963. During this speech hundreds of citizens, white and black, attended in support
of King. MLK uses repetition, metaphors, and allusions throughout his honored address to
propose his belief that every American citizen should be treated equally, free from
discrimination.
While delivering this lecture, the speaker uses many examples of repetition to enlighten
his audience that it is hypocritical to discriminate others in a free nation such as the United States
of America. For example, King repeats the phrase let freedom ring as he is concluding his
speech (par. 30-31). The repetition of these words reminds the American population that their
nation is one that is built on the concept of freedom. It persuades the audience to strive for
equality, regardless of skin color. The majority of the white population had distasteful attitudes
towards blacks at the time even though African American citizens had some rights that were
equal to their white counterparts, but this repeated phrase influences American citizens to stay
true to Americas concept that every individual should be equal to one another. Furthermore, in
paragraph 3, the phrase one hundred years later is recycled several times to describe the
duration of the discrimination occurring in the United States (King). Even though the
Emancipation Proclamation was delivered one hundred years prior to this occasion, it has still
not taken full effect because African Americans are considered inferior to white individuals.

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These words reinforce the fact that discrimination has occurred for too long in America, and it is
time for this nation to practice total equality. Lastly, MLK repeats the word together in
paragraph twenty-six when addressing his audience. This word creates a sense of unity in the
American people which influences them to believe that they are all equal and part of one whole
entity known as the United States of America. The utilization of repetition in Kings address
stress the idea that it is time for the United States to change and end discrimination.
Metaphors are heavily used by Martin Luther King as well to inform his audience that
injustice towards the black population is still an important issue in America. He compares
discrimination to the constraints of chains at the beginning of his speech (King par. 3). This
comparison allows Kings audience to understand that these chains of prejudice are preventing
African American citizens from being completely free. They are treated like prisoners or slaves
as if the Emancipation Proclamation had no effect to freeing African Americans. As long as these
restraints are bound to them, then there will never be complete fairness and justice in this nation
that is considered to be free towards all of its people. Additionally, the speaker explains that the
majority of Americas citizens have taken a tranquilizing drug of gradualism when addressing
the issue of discrimination (King par. 5). This metaphor illustrates how many citizens are not
concerned on resolving this problem, but MLK is attempting to create a sense of urgency in his
audience so that they will soon end the injustice that is occurring in this country. In addition,
Martin Luther King compares the hatred and injustice occurring in America to a mountain of
despair in paragraph twenty-six. This symbolizes the great magnitude of racial discrimination
and how it is not an affair that should be taken lightly. It stresses Kings belief that there is a
great journey ahead of his supporters, but they will one day overcome this mountain and
experience equal tolerance. In this address, the speaker compares the injustice and oppression in

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Mississippi to a sweltering heat (King par. 19). This analogy emphasizes the idea that Mississippi
is an unfavorable state in the United States because of its racial discrimination. However, King
believes that one day this state will become an oasis of freedom and justice which will prove
that even the most hateful states in America can overcome this intolerance (par. 19). King uses
metaphors in his address to explain to the American people that they should conquer racial
discrimination.
Another notable device that MLK uses to convince his audience to stop discriminating
are allusions. In the second paragraph, King alludes to Abraham Lincoln, reminding the
American citizens that he was the great president that freed African Americans from slavery.
Also in his address, the speaker refers to former president Thomas Jefferson, remembering how
he was the president that believed all citizens should have the unalienable rights (King par. 4).
These allusions allow the audience to recall the fact that great Presidents, such as Lincoln and
Jefferson, believed that all men should be free and equal. The beliefs from these former
Presidents could influence some American citizens to follow in their footsteps and not
discriminate because these presidents are considered to be some of the greatest to ever lead the
country. Kings allusions allow the audience to recall the ideologies of great leaders which
persuade the citizens to overcome racial injustice.
Martin Luther Kings utilization of these literary devices in his I Have a Dream speech
allows his audience to understand the harsh conditions of discrimination. These devices also
influence individuals to take action in order to stop and prevent racial injustice in America so that
every citizen can live equally and peacefully.

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Works Cited
Martin Luther King I Have a Dream Speech American Rhetoric. Martin Luther King I Have
a Dream Speech American Rhetoric. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2016.