Universidad San Francisco de Quito

Writing and Rhetoric

Rhetorical situations: “I have a dream” by Martin Luther King
Names: Joshua Velasco, Nicolás Gabela, Juan Diego Williams, Adrián Ávila
Student codes:
00320665
00326695
00210060
00325737
Speech analysis:
Genre: Speech
Purpose: Claim African American people’s rights
Martin L. King directs to the audience as if they have not accomplished their duty of
treating all people the same way, justifying himself saying “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.” With this said he
demonstrated that Americans have failed treating others as civilians as well, giving his
speech the purpose of claiming black people's rights.
Tone: Martin L. King used a formal, optimistic and a serious tone demanding rights and
equality for the Afro-American people. This speech was so powerful that it inspired many
countries around the world to change the situation with racism.
Audience: In this case the audience was all the citizens of the US that were against racism,
violence against Afro-Americans and segregation. There are other elements that influence
this speech, like the fact that Martin L. King talked in the Lincoln Memorial a really
important place in Washington that is known to be in honor of Abrahan Lincoln,
cornerstone in the abolishment of slavery in the United States.
Medium: Spoken
Stance: There is a bright future waiting for Americans, a future where racism does not
exist, as well as discrimination; a future where every American is free and equal to one
another, especially black people to white people.
Martin L. King delivered his speech through a hopeful and optimistic attitude, and this
shown in lines quotes such as “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live
(…) where they will not be judged by the color of their skin” and “This is our hope. This is
the faith that I go back to the South with.”. As he continued his speech, King talks to his
audience as if they were his family: “With this faith we will be able to transform the
jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood”. Even though,
many times, the main focus of the speech is directed towards white and black people
(“Little Black boys and Black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and
white girls”), King’s speech continues to emphasize on a bright future for all Americans,
where everyone is equal (“All of God's children, Black men and white men, Jews and
Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands”).

Context: During the XVIII and the XIX centuries Afro-American slavery was part of the
USA history, until Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 which
abolished slavery. During the next century racism and discrimination became part of the
USA society and many civil rights activists appeared and fought to eliminate racism. Many
protests took place and most of them were violent. In 1963 “The March on Washington for
Jobs and Freedom” was organized as a peaceful protest in which civil rights activist wanted
to achieve racial equality and increase job opportunities for the Afro-Americans. For the
end of the march, an Afro-American activist named Martin L. King previously prepared a
speech known as “I have a dream” alluding to Lincoln, which demanded for justice and
liberty for the Afro-American society.