Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., delivered his groundbreaking speech, “Beyond Vietnam-- A Time to Break Silence” on April 4, 1967 in Riverside Church. In his address, King spoke with conviction against the US participation in the Vietnam War. He establishes a powerful, yet prophetic tone, in his attempt to persuade the public, especially those in favor of the war. King successfully utilizes emotional and ethical appeals in order to convince the public that the Vietnam War was only bringing America to destruction.
The use of emotional appeals is evident in King’s speech when he argues about the increase of poverty due to the war. In his speech, King states, “there was a real promise of hope for the poor...through the poverty program. There were...hopes, new beginnings. Then came the buildup in Vietnam, and I watched this program broken and eviscerated.” Before the war, underprivileged citizens were finally given another chance in redemption. But the war took away that chance, those …show more content…
King faces the terrible reality to which “black young men who had been crippled by our society” are being sent to Vietnam to give them freedom which they did not find in their own home. It is ironic how the US government is eager to grant freedom for those in another nation when they can not grant freedom to their own black citizens. To even further reveal the discrimination at work, “we have been...watching Negro and white boys on TV screens as they kill and die together for a nation that has been unable to seat them together in the same schools.” The only occurrence when blacks and whites are finally united, is when they die together in war. King is able to show his audience just how cruel their country is that it did not even give their own citizens freedom. Through this, King can successfully convince others to support him in his opposition to the Vietnam
The use of emotional appeals is evident in King’s speech when he argues about the increase of poverty due to the war. In his speech, King states, “there was a real promise of hope for the poor...through the poverty program. There were...hopes, new beginnings. Then came the buildup in Vietnam, and I watched this program broken and eviscerated.” Before the war, underprivileged citizens were finally given another chance in redemption. But the war took away that chance, those …show more content…
King faces the terrible reality to which “black young men who had been crippled by our society” are being sent to Vietnam to give them freedom which they did not find in their own home. It is ironic how the US government is eager to grant freedom for those in another nation when they can not grant freedom to their own black citizens. To even further reveal the discrimination at work, “we have been...watching Negro and white boys on TV screens as they kill and die together for a nation that has been unable to seat them together in the same schools.” The only occurrence when blacks and whites are finally united, is when they die together in war. King is able to show his audience just how cruel their country is that it did not even give their own citizens freedom. Through this, King can successfully convince others to support him in his opposition to the Vietnam