Civil Rights Speech Rhetorical Analysis

The Civil Rights Movement was a brutal time in American history. Demonstrations, marches, and riots defined the oppressed black population’s efforts to fight for equality. Martin Luther King Jr, one of the most famous leaders of the movement, gave many powerful speeches, however one stands out because it was given not only fighting for rights for blacks, but for the rest of the American Population too. King’s address about the Vietnam war uses ethos and logos in a highly organized way to effortlessly present his argument.
Martin Luther King Jr. starts by addressing his audience using “Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen” hoping to reach a large amount of people. By addressing both ladies and gentlemen, he achieves a formal tone, and proves he hopes to gain support from all parts of the country: men and women, and people of all color. This also sets up his next point, …show more content…
By starting with ethos he is able to draw in supporters, and add credibility to his character easily. For example, he uses his status as a religious leader to establish connections to his primarily Christian audience, as well as give him a place as a highly moral person. He organizes his speech by argument, but also by tone and tactic. After he spends time using ethos as his primary strategy, he begins using logos to shape his argument on a more stable level. By layering strategies, he is able to reach and connect to all types of people: those who are influenced by emotion, and those who are influenced by facts. It adds a deepness to his speech that would not be achieved otherwise.
The combination of civil rights with that of human rights undoubtedly helped Martin Luther King Jr. to gain followers. Overall, in this speech, he aims to advocate for all Americans, not just those who are oppressed. King maintains organization in his speech by tactfully layering ethos and logos to present an easy to follow