I Have a Dream
The I Have a Dream speech was written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and given August 28, 1963. The speech was given at the Lincoln Memorial and is often remembered as the defining moment of the Civil Rights Movement.
Fast Facts:
- Written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
- Delivered on August 28, 1963
- Delivered from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial
- Part of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
- Ranked as the top American speech of the 20th century
- In United States National Recording Registry
The Speech
The speech was delivered in the style of a Baptist sermon and made skilled use of allusion and references to other speeches, documents, events, and The Bible to ground the message in historical, political, cultural, and spiritual contexts. I Have a Dream is also often used as an example of the skilled use of anaphora, or repetition. The speech help increase momentum in the Civil Rights Movement and put even more pressure on John F. Kennedy and the federal government to enact a civil rights act.
Related Pages on Mahalo
Martin Luther King Jr., Martin Luther King Day, Coretta Scott King, Robert F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King III, Rosa Parks, DNC MLK Tribute
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