I Have a Dream

“I Have a Dream” speech is arguably one of the most famous addresses ever given. The
statement was made by the Reverend Martin Luther King Junior following the march into
Washington. The address was the culmination of a nationwide campaign for the civil rights
movement. Dr. King was to give a speech on the civil rights issue in the full glare of national
television; the speech would be televised around the nation. The speech itself was very well
written. Dr. King made use of repetition at the beginning of sentences to emphasize points and to
ensure that the key themes were given importance. In addition, the speech made use of
appropriate quotations and allusions while using concrete examples to ground the main
arguments.
What made the speech so well received were Dr. King’s power as a gifted orator. His verbal and
non-verbal presentation was flawless. Dr. King’s pronunciation and enunciation were perfect. He
could project his voice while the inflection in his tone and cadence of the words were exactly
right. Also, Dr. King had mastered the art of pausing for effect to give his words more weight.
During the speech, Dr. King expressed very powerful body language and at some points in the
oratory made as if to reach out for the crowd. During the final part of the speech, and indeed, the
part that resonated most with the audience, Dr. King appears to be standing on his toes and holds
out his hand as he delivers the emphatic finale. The speech also infused emotion, and the orator

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was able to connect with the audience. Dr. King was able to identify with his audience when he
points out that he is aware of the problems they must have had to get to Washington for the rally.
In all, the elements of the speech came together seamlessly to ensure that the message was well
received.