1. Rhetorical Appeal
Beth Siyoum
Was the emancipation proclamation actually in effect when it was signed 100 years ago?
In the “I Have a Dream,” speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., it states that, “one hundred years
later the slaves are not free.” King uses rhetorical appeals to persuade others that people
shouldn’t be persecuted because of their race. Rhetorical appeals help King persuade the
audience through their emotions, facts and his credibility.
First, King uses ethical appeals to explain his belief. In the speech he says, “as we walk,
we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back.” This
indicates an ethical appeal because he talks as if he’s part of the group he’s addressing. King also
says, “but there is something that I must say to my people….in the process of gaining our
rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for
freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.” This shows King’s credibility
because he demonstrates that he has been through this so he is giving them advice on what the
people should and shouldn't do. In the text it also says, “in 1964 he was awarded the Nobel Peace
Prize.” This quote shows his expertise because he received such a prestigious award.
Also, King uses logical appeals to advocate the readers that people shouldn’t be
persecuted based on their race. For example King says, “there will be neither rest nor tranquility
in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will
continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.” This
quote explains a reasonable claim that there won't be peace until the Blacks get their rights, and
it offers proof that it will destroy the foundation of our nation. Also in the text it says, “when the
architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of

2. Independence, 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.” This quote explains that the
Constitution was written for all the citizens of the U.S. Another example is when he says, “ we
can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police
brutality….and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like
a mighty stream.” This demonstrates that they will never be happy until justice is granted to the
Blacks.
Finally, King uses emotional appeals to persuade the reader as well. In his speech King
says, “one hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast
ocean of material prosperity.” This quote shows the reader life hasn't changed much for the
Blacks. Also King says, “this will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with
a new meaning.” This persuades the reader that one day if everyone is granted equal rights, there
would be peace. Finally, he says, “one hundred years later, the life of a Negro is still sadly
crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination.” This persuades the
readers that Blacks are still not free even if the Emancipation Proclamation was signed
King used rhetorical appeals to advocate others that people shouldn’t be persecuted
because of their race. This benefited him because it made his speech stronger than it had been.
All in all Dr. King was powerful in advocating others in his, “ I Have a Dream,” speech.