Martin Luther King "I Have a Dream" Speech Analysis

In this famous quote from his speech, Martin Luther King, Jr. deftly uses repetition--repetition of the phrase "I have a dream"--to provide the reader a glimpse into the horrors of society's racism in the 1960's, while at the same time suggesting future goals to combat this racism. When rereading this powerful statement, it is clear that Martin Luther King Jr. wishes his children to not experience prejudice, to be able to be judged by …

…a difference--create a positive outcome--by not listening to racial jokes. More importantly, when we react with others in every-day life, we can get to know them before judging them based on their appearance. This applies not only to people of color, but to people who look like a quintessential stereotype--people who look like "dumb-jocks," "stupid cheerleaders," "nerds," etc. Through these actions, we can encourage others around us to not judge someone by their outward appearance.