On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and delivered a speech before thousands of people. This speech will become known as the most famous speech in history, it is known as the "I Have a Dream" speech. In this speech, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. recited his views on segregation in one of the most significant civil rights demonstrations in history. King's intentions were to tell people that racism needed to end and that African Americans needed to gain civil and economic rights. King was able to portray his ideology with the help of rhetorical devices: pathos, ethos, and logos, which consequently allowed his audience to fully listen, connect, and engage with his message. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The speech was delivered with great passion which allows the audience to feel purposeful and stay engaged. The pathos of use creates a compassionate yet empowering atmosphere. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. uses his own desire for the American Dream to allow his audience to identify with his message. This allows its audience to relate to a mutual desire between people, that we all deserve freedom. The phrase "Now is the time..." was repeated numerous times during the speech, this gives the audience the feeling of being motivated to take action. King uses his personal example as a father to emphasize that he wants nothing but the best for his children. People who are parents like King will associate with him as a father and the aspirations parents have for their children. This example demonstrates the knowledge and credibility of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s philosophy and the fact that he stands with the people to achieve the best for all Americans. King begins his speech by providing an insight into his vision of a future that includes freedom, nondiscrimination, and lasting happiness. In his speech, King often revisits moments in American history and references the leaders who laid the foundations of free America. This adds ethics to his speech. However, King's speech is also rich in imagery, and his sentences often paint a picture of a beautiful dream nation where unity and peace abound. King dreamed of a cohesive society that would not easily fall prey to discrimination or remain divided along color lines. King's greatest disgust is that the promises made in Lincoln's time never came true and instead African Americans were only fed false promises. His reference to the Emancipation Proclamation and its promises also adds an ethical appeal to the speech. Throughout the speech, King refers to a credible source, former President Abraham Lincoln. He goes on to state that he is grateful for the remarkable abolition of slavery and acknowledges the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. He also continually refers to the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. He claims that time and again they refuse to keep the promises made to the people. Using these references allows his audience to trust and respect what he is offering them. Martin Luther King uses logos to persuade his audience to fight for equality. King refers to the Emancipation Proclamation which abolished slavery, thus freeing all slaves. However, he states that “the Negro is not yet free.” He demonstrates this with reference to segregation and police brutality towards African Americans. Another use of logos is when King points out that not all white people.20)