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The Battle for Oughtness

Martin Luther King Jr. was and still is one of the most inspirational speakers of all
time. He symbolizes the social movement that completely changed the course of history. MLKs
beliefs were immortalized through the many speeches he gave in his career; speeches like his
acceptance of the Nobel Prize. In this acceptance speech, MLK demonstrates the huge role the
Civil Rights movement will have on humanity as a whole through the relentless struggle of the
supporters of the movement by using provocative diction and uplifting metaphors.
The Nobel Prize is an outstanding award recognizing groups or people who have
obtained peace for their community or society. In the beginning paragraphs of his speech, MLK
is a bit uncertain as to why this movement has managed to earn the Nobel Prize. He says, I must
ask why this prize is awarded to a movement which is beleaguered and committed to unrelenting
struggle; to a movement which has not won the very peace and brotherhood which is the essence
of the Nobel Prize. When MLK claims the movement to be beleaguered, hes referring to the
constant violence from those who oppose Civil Rights. Many of the activists have met nothing
but the hostility of those who refuse to let society grow and change. However, the King realizes
that it is the approach of the Civil Rights movement that makes it deserving and worthy of such
an esteemed award: After contemplation, I conclude that this award which I receive on behalf of
that movement is a profound recognition that nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political
and moral question of our time the need for men to overcome oppression and violence without
resorting to oppression and violence. This quote comes to show the importance of the Civil
Rights movement. It shows that through peaceful means and worldwide support, MLK and the
dreams of many other oppressed African-Americans will succeed in creating a better, more fair
society.
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MLK uses vocabulary that paints vivid pictures of the brutal forces against the Civil
Rights movement and creates strong emotions. In lines eight through twelve of the speech it
says, our children, crying out for brotherhood, were answered with fire hoses and snarling
dogs and even death. By portraying the protestors as children, we get a sense that they are
innocent and helpless. This word especially captures the hearts of mothers and parents all around
because they think of their own young children. It also creates a sense of guilt, because the
world, as the protestors parents, has failed to protect them and now theres a sense of duty to do
fix this. MLK also alerts his audience when he says in lines 43 to 44, I refuse to accept the
cynical notion that nation after nation must spiral down a militaristic stairway into hell of
thermonuclear destruction. This phrase alarms his audience and makes them realize how
dangerous the movement really is, and how even more dangerous it would be if nothing is done
to stop segregation and discrimination. In paragraph 7 of the speech Martin says, I believe that
wounded justice lying prostrate on the blood-flowing streets of our nations, can be lifted from
this dust of shame to reign supreme among the children of men. By using the word prostrate
MLK makes it seem as if this countrys justice has surrendered and failed. However, he claims
that justice can redeem itself with support and peaceful retaliation. Martin Luther King Jr.s word
choice demonstrates how painful the Civil Rights movement has been. He does this to remind
people that peace has not been obtained yet. That just because he has received the Nobel Peace
Prize, it doesnt mean that the movement is complete.
Despite all the fierce violence surrounding the movement, MLK does acknowledge the
beauty behind the battle. In paragraph eleven, Martin says, So you honor the dedicated pilots of
our struggle who have sat at the controls as the freedom movement soared into orbitYou honor
the ground crew without whose labor and sacrifices the jet flights to freedom could never have
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left the earth. In this metaphor, MLK uses the pilots to symbolize the activist leaders and the
ground crew as every individual dedicated to the cause. The activist leaders are important
because they took charge and assembled to fight for the movement. They led and encouraged
others to join in the brotherhood. All the other supporters were just as important because without
them, they wouldnt have ever gotten such widespread recognition over the issue. Because his
diction gave such a scary notion over the violence towards the movement, MLK used metaphors
to remind his audience that there is still hope. He states that the people working for this cause
have achieved a great deal and they can still win justice. This metaphor motivates people to not
give up.
With his captivating diction, MLK shows the reality of the struggle this movement is
undergoing. It shows all the hardships and despair that surround the discrimination and
oppression of segregation. It truly captivates how serious and important of an issue the Civil
Rights Movement is. However, towards the end, MLK reminds us through metaphors that hope
is not lost and that righteousness will prevail and peace and brotherhood will come with the unity
of both whites and blacks. This speech is powerful and without it, not as many people would
have been moved to do the right thing and fight for the civil liberties we now have today.