I Have a Dream Speech

Throughout the 1960s, Martin Luther King, a famous activist, engaged in various civil rights boycotts and protests, helping to further the movement and gain its eventual victory. Out of all of his civil rights efforts, the â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech, given on the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, had the greatest impact on the world. The speech managed to illustrate the racist problems of the time and provoke the audience into feeling sympathy, while providing hope to the depressed African-American population.King's speech not only changed history for the black community, but it also gave hope to blacks throughout the world. His speech was so successful because he was able to arouse his audience to their feet and get them to take action in society. The reason for the great impact of the speech, â€Å"I Have a Dream,† is due to the tense social mood of the time and that it reflects the conditions of the time, giving black activists a vision for the future.It struck directly in to the hearts of blacks across America, and made whites ashamed of their actions and be willing to have a new start. In just 17 minutes, King influenced and informed the people about racial equality and fairness. Later, near the end of his speech, King continues to â€Å"preach† this point. For example, he stated, â€Å"†¦little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. King talks about the future and how one day, freedom will â€Å"ring† from all across the United States and how people of all races will be able to â€Å"join hands† and be â€Å"brothers and sisters. † He strongly desires a united world where racism will not exist. He says, â€Å"With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day. † Overall, King intelligently used a we ll-planned structure to manipulate his audience into agreeing with him.