MLK effective ethical communicator

Even before the United States was a country, slavery was a part of everyday American life. Many farms depended on the slave labor. Even though many did not depend on slavery, many grew up believing it was moral and ethical because it was a common American practice. Eventually slavery was banned but prejudice and discrimination remained among most Americans. Many civil rights activists worked towards true equality without segregation or discrimination. One of the most effective, most influential, and most celebrated is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his “I have a dream” speech. In this article, Dr. King is trying to persuade Americans to stop discriminating and segregating against African Americans by using an economic analogy.
Dr. King’s rhetorical tool, the economic analogy, was employed to relate to the ordinary American. He used banking and checks because most Americans have experienced the ordinary act of cashing a check. King compared the gathering of the civil rights activists and Christians at the Lincoln Memorial to cashing a check. He also compared the Founding Fathers signing of the Declaration of Independence to a promissory note. He explained that African Americans had been given a bad check with “insufficient funds.” By showing the inequality with money, he appealed emotionally to those who have experienced cashing an insufficiently funded check. By doing so he brought to mind the disappointment and embarrassment that comes along with a bad check. By explaining the “promissory note” the Founding Fathers signed he pulled at the heart strings of Patriotic Americans. He showed how the intentions of the early American patriots were those of equality and these beliefs were not being employed. By using an analogy it softened the blow he made against prejudice Americans who were treating African Americans badly. Lastly, King stated that he “refused to believe the bank of justice is bankrupt.” This shows how determined he is and how simple the solution of universal equality really is. The “Bank of Justice” does not need actual money; it simply needs people to apply justice and equality in their lives. By using the analogy of the “bank of justice” it makes people of any financial status feel like they can contribute to equality. By demanding the, “riches of freedom and the security of justice,” King demonstrates how eradicating discrimination and segregation are really American values. These are values they believe in; Americans just need to apply them by allowing the African Americans around them equal respect and opportunities.
Overall, I feel King was very effective in using the economic analogy because he accomplished many things. Besides appealing to the average American, it drew an image which most could relate to. It also softly demonstrated the inequality demonstrated by many towards African Americans. Lastly, it showed how equality was everyone’s right; the Founding Fathers knew this and so did Americans. His economic analogy helped anyone feel like they could contribute to the cause of equality. I feel this rhetorical tool was ethical and effective. It appealed to Americans in many ways and made them realize their country’s core values were not being followed. This showed Americans inequality in a different light and the effect on African Americans. I feel that King was a great communicator in this speech because just with this one rhetoric tool out of the numerous in his speech he was able to appeal to his American people in various ways.