Rhetorical Analysis ive been to the mountaintop

Rhetorical Analysis: I’ve Been to the Mountaintop Martin Luther King, Jr. was the predominant leader of the Civil Rights Movement to end racial discrimination and segregation in the latter half of the twentieth century. As a world-renowned spokesperson advocating nonviolent protest, many of his speeches were centered on peaceful ways to change the unfair treatment and segregation of blacks. His hope was to use these methods of nonviolent protest so that one day all of God’s children, whites and blacks included, would live, and treat each other, as equals. On April 3, 1968, he delivered what would be his final speech, I’ve Been to the Mountaintop, in Memphis, Tennessee, at the Mason Temple (Church of God in Christ Headquarters). Addressing a crowd of civil rights supporters, King’s focus for that night was on “the refusal of Memphis to be fair and honest in its dealings with its public servants, who happen to be sanitation workers” (King 3). He called for unity, as well as nonviolent boycotts and economic action, all while challenging the United States government to live up to its so-called ideals. Through strong repetition, rhetorical appeals, analogies and metaphorical comparisons, and rhetorical questions (in varying order), King effectively wins the hearts of his audience and inspires their determination to conquer the injustices in yet another city. In the beginning of his speech, King immediately develops his ethos by personally thanking the audience for being present during a storm warning and letting them know that they, like him, are simply determined to “go on anyhow.” He humbly accepts the microphone after hearing from his close friend, explaining that he is not quite sure who that wonderful introduction was supposed to be for. With these words, he has obtained even more credibility than he had previously by appealing to the audience on a personal level. He has opened up the floor to emotionally connect with his listeners. King arrives at his main