A memorable phrase that changed history

The civil war ended slavery, but it did not stop inequality. America has struggled with treating all men equal since the country was established. Many influential men tried to stop this segregation—though it may have helped a little—most men failed to persuade white Americans to believe that all men are created equal. On August 28, 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. addressed America with his “I have a dream” speech. He tries to persuade white Americans to look past skin color and accept African Americans as equals, by repetition.

Martin Luther King Jr. said, "I have a dream" 9 times in his speech. If he had only said that phrase once, this speech would not have been as memorable, it would not have helped as many people as it did, and its message would not have been as clear and unmistakable. By repeating himself so many times, King helped people understand the main idea of his speech—he had dream that one day everyone would treat each other as equals. By repeating himself he made his message clear, helping everyone see his vision of what a color blind world would look like. Lastly by repeating himself, he made his speech memorable. The phrase "I have a dream" is indelibly printed on the memory of this nation. It will always bring to mind a passionate African American with a goal, and the movement he began that changed history.

Through the repetition of the phrase, “I have a dream,” Martin Luther King Jr. was able to help people realize the main message of his speech, make his message clear, and get people to remember his dream. This speech stirred the hearts of people all over the nation, giving African Americans hope for the future and white Americans a reason to embrace equality