Audience

The audience of Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech, “I Have a Dream”, was formed by all the people gathered in Washington in front of the US Capitol. These were both black and white civil rights activists who marched for equal rights for African Americans.

The speech was also filmed and broadcast by the media, which suggests a general American and international audience. In the video of the speech, we can see both white people and African Americans in the audience cheering and applauding. Notably, the speaker argues that the fight for equal rights is also supported by parts of the white population: “…for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny.” (ll. 72-74)

The content of the speech indicates that the speaker targets African Americans who are fighting for equal rights, or who are oppressed and discriminated against by the segregation system: “And some of you have come from areas where your quest – quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering.” (ll. 99-103)

However, the speech also targets those who are against the Civil Right Movement – citizens as well as members...