John Lewis Speech Analysis

One of the most important parts of the civil rights movement was to be able to give a compelling speech that encourages the people to act and fight for what is right. One of the key speeches of the civil rights movement was John Lewis’s speech during the march in Washington on August 28th 1968 because of his way of persuading the audience. Although he was asked to make adjustments to his already powerful speech at the March on Washington, John Lewis uses rhetorical appeals to make his argument strong and persuasive. He uses emotion to show the horrors of what is occurring, logic to convey the reasons why there needs to be a change, and his credibility to show his involvement in the civil rights movement. First of all, Lewis was able to make his argument compelling by his use of emotion, or pathos. By using emotional context in his speech, it …show more content…
Before the speech even begins, John Lewis was introduced for being a chairman of SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee). By showing his authority as an activist for equality, Lewis’s speech has already gained credibility points, making his argument more compelling and relevant. Also, during his speech, he says, “I appeal to all of you to get into this great revolution that is sweeping this nation” (Lewis). By saying this he is asking the people to become a part of the revolution that has already been set in place by him and his fellow leaders. This includes the sit-ins and stand-ins, freedom rides, silent protests, etc. All of which Lewis himself has been a part of, therefore increasing his credibility and involvement of the movement. Adding this into his argument compels the audience because it shows that John Lewis is involved with the fight for freedom and equal opportunities, and not just another face with no interest at heart for the civil rights