John F Kennedy Civil Rights Address Rhetorical Analysis

779 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: John f. kennedy speech

John F. Kennedy was the 35th president of the United States. During his time in office, segregation and discrimination were taking place in many cities, causing a tremendous threat for public safety. John F. Kennedy was extremely disappointed for the way Americans treating African Americans. Thus, he believed it was time for a change for the benefits of the country. Determined to change the emotions of carless Americans towards African Americans, using strong argumentative appeals, repetition and imagery, President John F. Kenney delivers his Civil Rights Address to the public on June 11, 1963. Making sure that the audience understands his main point, Kennedy uses repetition. The first example he uses is this, “They are not yet freed from …show more content…

He emphasized how African Americans fell short in everyday life during the Civil Rights Movement compared to white citizens during a struggling time period of segregation. Continually, he explained the situation in detail, “…has about one-half as much chance of completing a high school as a white baby born in the same place on the same day, one-third as much chance of completing college, one-third as much chance of becoming a professional man, twice as much chance of becoming unemployed, about one-seventh as much chance of earning $10,000 a year, a life expectancy which is 7 years shorter, and the prospects of earning only half as much.” With the goal to make his audience think about the big picture, Kennedy delivered a strong message of conviction to change the minds of Americans. He addressed this issue because most white citizens had no interest of looking through African Americans prospective. Kennedy then uses logical appeal, “This Nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.” Kennedy used a phrase that came from the Declaration of Independence. Reminding America that this is a country of all mankind, not just for whites only. Kennedy used strong appeals to change the way how white citizens treat African

Show More
Related

  • Rhetorical Devices In Mlk Jfk Speech

    500 Words  | 1 Pages

    First of all, Robert F. Kennedy was able to use repetition in his speech. The U.S. at the time was in a contradicting state to the degree that racism and prejudism was normal. In stanza 3, line 1 it states,”In this difficult day, in these difficult times for the United States, it is perhaps well to ask what kind of nation we are and what direction we want to move in.” This means that after MLK Jr. got assasinated, many people feared what sort of society we live on. Robert F. Kennedy makes this an important topic by using repetition because he goes straight to the point. Robert F. Kennedy was able to inspire people in Indianapolis to prolong peace and to be open minded on times of grief.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of John F Kennedy's Inaugural Address

    993 Words  | 2 Pages

    It was on January 20th 1961 that John F Kennedy gave his inaugural address after winning the presidential race and beating future president Richard Nixon. President, John F Kennedy in his speech, The Inaugural Address, he describes his plans for growth in America. Kennedy’s purpose is unite the people of the U.S. and bring everyone together for the good cause of promoting growth in the country. He creates a very inspirational tone in order to establish a connection with the U.S. people. In his speech Kennedy really used several rhetorical strategies of persuasion to motivate and persuade the U.S. people that they made the right choice in choosing him.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis of Speech John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Speech

    999 Words  | 2 Pages

    John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the 35th president of the United States. He graduated from Harvard, and joined the navy. He worked as a reporter before entering the political arena. He later wrote “profiles in courage” which won the Pulitzer Prize Award. Being that JFK was the youngest president to ever be in office there is no doubt that he encountered a lot of skepticism. This speech had many purposes but most importantly it gave him positive recognition. The inaugural address was written to encourage the American public to get actively involved with their country. It also reassured them that it was not a contest that he won but rather chance at a beginning. This speech reassured the voters that they made the right choice and informed a country that they were going to see some changes.

    Read More

  • The Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King, Jr.

    722 Words  | 2 Pages

    Martin Luther King, Jr., born on January 15, 1929, was well known for his nonviolent movement to bring justice and to an end to the segregation of the people in the United States back in the 1950s. With King being the leader of a peaceful protest, it failed to bring equally to the colored people. Martin Luther King, Jr. was labeled as an “outsider” who was “hatred and violence” and that his actions were “unwise and untimely” from the Public Statement by Eight Alabama Clergymen (clergymen). In response, on the day of April 16, 1963, he wrote the Letter from Birmingham Jail to declare and defense his movement was not “unwise and untimely” at all. To analyze his points, King used the powerful literary devices of pathos- use of an emotional appeal.ethos-

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of John F Kennedy's Inaugural Address

    541 Words  | 2 Pages

    In 1961, John F. Kennedy presents a very authoritative and persuasive inaugural address with a surplus of rhetoric. His speech is full of rhetoric in order to manipulate or sway his audience to his new policies. Kennedy’s objective is to unite the country and he does this through fear, duty, and pride. In order to create unity, Kennedy appeals to fear by revealing one common enemy: nuclear warfare. Nuclear warfare could mean the destruction of many countries, which Kennedy effectively presents to America and the world. Kennedy’s earnest tone push the people to invest in his purpose to provide freedom and peace around the world. He stirs at their emotions by effectively using imagery, which helps create pictures of mass destruction. In

    Read More

  • Analyzing MLK's Refutation of Alabama Clergymen's Criticisms

    1241 Words  | 3 Pages

    Eight Alabama clergymen made a public statement directed towards Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. containing many criticisms against the civil rights movement. The criticisms were as follows: (1) The issue of race relations should be handled by local leaders instead of “outsiders” like himself. (2) Pressing the court and negotiation among local leaders is a better path. (3) The Negro community should be more patient, for the workings of the legal system take time. (4) The demonstrations are “unwise and untimely.” (5) The methods used by demonstrators are extreme and (6) If it weren’t for the police, your demonstrations would have turned violent. As a result, King, while imprisoned in the Birmingham City Jail, wrote them a lengthy letter that refuted all of the aforementioned criticisms and then proceeded to express his disappointment in them for saying such things. Through his skillful use of diction, anaphoras, rhetorical appeals, and syntax, King successfully achieves his purposes: to refute claims made by the eight clergymen while justifying his reasons for the demonstrations he lead and to encourage the clergymen to join his cause.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Dr. Martin Luther King's I Have A Dream Speech

    931 Words  | 2 Pages

    The author of the “I Have A Dream” speech is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. King, known for his work in Civil Rights during the 1960s. In this informative speech, Dr. King inspires individuals to have a change in both white and black citizens during the Civil RIghts era in the United States. Moreover, the premise of the speech is that both sides of the discussion must accept change in a non-violent yet effective way. He spoke about the injustices of segregation and discrimination of black citizens that was occurring in our nation. As he opened, “I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation,” he explained what he was there to do for all citizens. He is

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Speech

    876 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the speech, “There Comes a Time When the People Get Tired,” by Martin Luther King Jr., King’s goal is to persuade. King wants to persuade that African American’s want and deserve their rights, but if they have to protest to receive them. He believes that the protest have to be peaceful and prove a point. King is effective in his persuasion because he uses pathos, figurative language, loaded language and more.

    Read More

  • The Civil Rights Address by John F. Kennedy

    875 Words  | 2 Pages

    The way logos were used in his speech greatly assured the public that action needed to be taken immediately. He provided both reasoning and logic to better forward his point that a change needed to be made. One area specifically he states, “The Negro baby born in America today, regardless of the section of the state in which he is born, has about one-half as much chance of completing high school”. The statistics that John F Kennedy provides seriously strengthen his argument, with logic and statistics to back up his argument it creates a stronger pull. John F. Kennedy also makes the statement “.about one-seventh as much chance of earning $10,000 a year,” showing the difference in wages between African Americans and Caucasians.... ...

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Coretta Scott King's Speech

    1710 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Death is the only pure, beautiful conclusion of a great passion” (David Herbert Lawrence). Coretta Scott King was an inspiring person to women of all ages and races. However her death had an impact on everyone, she was seen as an idol, more importantly as a leader. Malcom X’s daughter Attallah Shabazz who is also Mrs. King’s most pride supporter addresses her remarks in her eulogy and engages the people at the funeral service for Mrs. King on the sorrowful day of February 7th, 2006 in Atlanta, Georgia. With hundreds of people, (mainly women) watching on TV or listening in the stands during this depressing time reflect and honor on the achievements and positive attitude she had on the community for others. Attallah Shabazz hoped that this event

    Read More

  • John F Kennedy Ethnic Discrimination Speech

    120 Words  | 1 Pages

    The idea of racism and ethnic discrimination needs to change. In this speech, John F. Kennedy is saying that a country that calls itself free, even in their constitution, is not actually completely free. Kennedy also talks about how we can say to the world "We are a free country!", excluding the Negroes. Also, Kennedy voices how we can "Preach freedom around the world" and then turn around and support acts of slavery and discrimination, acting like it does not exist. The idea of this discrimination needs to change in order to become a truly free country. Even though we can as a country say we are a free, egalitarian country, the citizens of the country may not articulate that.

    Read More

  • The Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King, Jr.

    1003 Words  | 3 Pages

    Martin Luther King, Jr. used a lot of rhetorical techniques in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” to respond to the eight Clergymen who criticized his actions of no-violent demonstration in Birmingham calling “Unwise and untimely” (Dr. King 3) they said this about his actions. Also, Martin Luther King used a lot of Logos and ethos in his speech to persuade the reader.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis of Martin Luther King's I Have A Dream Speech

    822 Words  | 2 Pages

    Martin Luther King’s speech was made after the March on Washington on August 28, 1963. He delivered the “I Have a dream” speech on the Lincoln Memorial steps. He verbalized this speech to millions of people blacks and whites. This is one of the greatest speeches because it has many elements like repetition, assonance and consonance, pathos, logos, and ethos.

    Read More

  • An Analysis of John F. Kennedy's Civil Rights Address

    1734 Words  | 4 Pages

    It is 11 June, 1963, and the Alabama National Guardsmen are called to the University of Alabama to ensure the safe admission of two black students. That same afternoon, John F. Kennedy addresses the nation in an attempt to sooth flared tempers on both sides of the debate. Despite the limited time for preparation, “… it was one of his best speeches–a heartfelt appeal in behalf of a moral cause that included several memorable lines calling upon the country to honor its finest traditions” (Dallek). Indeed, part of this heartfelt spirit is likely derived from the relative spontaneity of the speech. Nevertheless, Kennedy is well-recognized as skilled in his use of language (Renehan), and purposefully employs several methods to create his appeals.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Strategies in John F. Kennedy Inaugural Address

    910 Words  | 2 Pages

    In his prominent 1961 Inaugural Address, John F. Kennedy extensively employs pathos, parallelism, antithesis, and varied syntax to captivate millions of people, particularly to persuade them to stand together and attempt to further human rights for the “betterment” of the world. Kennedy’s effective use of various rhetorical styles succeeds in persuading his audience –the world and the U.S citizens—that his newly-seized position as the U.S. President will be worthwhile for all.

    Read More

More about John F Kennedy Civil Rights Address Rhetorical Analysis

Open Document