Non fiction response to “I have a Dream Speech”

1. The main idea of the speech is that every race should be treated equally.

2. I can connect this speech with other news articles about black people treated terribly,

only because of their race.

3. The speaker’s purpose is to express his feelings about the society of that era

4. The audience are minorities that are also being discriminated

4a. The speaker makes it clear numerous times that he wants all races - especially the

black race - to be treated equally.

4b. The choice of audience affects the speech by making it very relatable to the minorities

that were affected by racism.

5. The speaker states ”Five score years ago a great American in whose symbolic shadow we

stand today signed the Emancipation Proclamation… But 100 years later the Negro still is not

free.” (King) meaning that America decided that Black people should earn their rights back, yet

it feels like nothing has changed after the proclamation.

6. The speaker uses both Pathos and Ethos to get his point across

6a. ”Five score years ago a great American in whose symbolic shadow we stand today

signed the Emancipation Proclamation… But 100 years later the Negro still is not free.” (King),

“Now is the time to rise from the dark nnll clrsolate valley of segregation to the unlit path of

racial justice.” (King), and “We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro in Mississippi cannot

vote and the Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote.” (King)

6b. The speaker is one of the most world-famous civil rights activists
7. One possible theme for this speech is that dreams can come true, but only if you work hard for

it.

7a. “We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and the

Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote.” (King), “We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead” (King), and ”There

will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights.”

(King)

8. This speech helped me understand the topic better by allowing me to go into the mind of a

discriminated victim and knowing what his beliefs are

9. I would try to squeeze in some pathos into the speech

9a. With data embedded in the speech, people would be able to realize exactly how

terrible these victims were treated.

10. Martin Luther King was probably the most influential civil rights activists. This is because

that he wouldn't stop fighting until he has his wishes fulfilled. In the speech, King says “We

cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and the Negro in New York

believes he has nothing for which to vote.” (King). He is saying that he will keep on fighting for

equal rights until black people have the rights that they deserve. IN conclusion, Martin Luther

King was the most influential activist because he never stop fighting for what he believed in.