Martin Luther King's "I have a Dream"

Martin Luther King's speech 'I have a dream' addresses oppressed African American communities during the Civil Right's movement in the United States in the 1960's, and through the criticizing of those that advocate racial violence and segregation, a call for action for equality ensues. The audience is recognized through the historical references to the Emancipation Proclamation and slavery, yet more importantly, the audience is referenced as "The Negro [who] still is not free" as "[he] is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination". The metaphor of the shackles establishes the idea that the African American community have been enduring social injustice that goes back to their slavery history, and that even though the Emancipation Proclamation was signed nearly a hundred years ago, they are still slaves to society in a way. Furthermore, the transitioning of referral of the African American community from "the Negro" to "we" enhances the idea that a historical struggle has now become a personal, very real adversity that must be overcome together, as a marginalized community. The audience feels that it is in their hands to bring about the change needed in the United States. After the audience is unified under a common community and cause, the subsequent identification of 'a culprit'-- "instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check"-- establishes a call to action for social change. It is explained that, because the perpetrators of social justice is the government itself (through the implementation of segregation laws), the community should come together stronger than ever to fight back. Hence, the purpose is to give the push and final unification needed to achieve mass social change.

The overarching chronology of King's speech referring to the past, present and future of African-Americans and the continuous use of anaphora place emphasis on the urgency for the Civil Rights Movement to meet its ambition and finally make all Americans equal under society and the eyes of the law. Initially, the struggles the African-American community faced as slaves, yet also they are connected to the fact that "one hundred years later the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself in exile in his own land". The use of anaphora when compared to the previous phrases strongly establishes the idea that the racial struggle has not ceased and that therefore, it is vital that it is eradicated. Contextually, it also continues to implies the need to fight even more strongly in the south, as the birthplace of slavery continues to be the most racially suppressive one. The reality of the present is subsequently emphasized once more with anaphora, enhancing the racial struggle and how "[African Americans] can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. [They] can never be satisfied as long as [their] bodies... cannot gain lodging in the motels of highways...". This continues to emphasize the need for social justice as they continue to be physically abused and segregated even though all that is being demanded is citizenship. Furthermore, the use of inclusive language further stresses the this is a shared struggle. The hope of the future then is presented by the use of anaphora of "I have a dream", rooted in the existence of the American Dream. Because the American Dream, –which is the result of an American's right to the pursuit of happiness stated in the Constitution–, applies to all Americans (blacks and whites), this implies that equality can be achieved, something that starts with hope. Considering that the black community already had long endured repression in the form of physical violence, King uses the contagious repetitive hope to reinstate that faltering determination to keep on fighting. Hence, the audience is encouraged throughout the speech to consider their historical and present racial struggles, but to know that together, they can build hope and fight together for justice.