Week 3 Poli Speech
For this assignment, you will watch Dr Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream speech (attached are the speeches) and a speech by Alicia Garza of the Black Lives Matter movement (Links to an external site.) and answer questions listed below. Pay special attention to the following aspects in the two speeches.
* Importance of body language while delivering the speech.
Gestures, cadence and delivery style.
Answer the following
Provide a summary of the two speeches.
Compare Dr. King’s leadership, charisma, power and passion to capture his audience to Alicia Garza’s speech. What are the similarities, if any? What are the differences, if any?
How does the location of the speeches support their messaging? Dr. King’s speech was held in a church and at the Lincoln Memorial, whereas today we have social networking and more avenues to relay messages. Does messaging make a difference?
Describe how the audience in Dr. King’s speeches relate to the Alicia Garza’s audience. Do you see a similarity or differences in the speeches and in the audience?
Paper Requirements (APA format)
Length: 2-3 pages of substantive content
12 pt font
Parenthetical in-text citations included and formatted in APA style
References page (a minimum of 2 outside scholarly sources plus the textbook and/or the weekly lesson for each course outcome).
Title and introduction pages are present.
Grading
Parenthetical in text citations included in APA format
title and introduction pages present
Sample Answer
Speech Analysis
Alicia Garza’s speech is about the racial injustices prevalent in American societies today. She begins by listing black Americans who have been killed due to minor offenses or altercations, such as playing loud music (Citizen University, 2016). The perpetrators of the crimes have often not faced justice since the community and judicial system are reluctant to act. She also sensitizes her audience to police brutality towards African Americans, citing various examples in recent history. Hence, her speech is a clarion call to all Americans, particularly blacks, to become more vigilant in their quest to end racial discrimination.
Meanwhile, Dr. King’s speech had occurred over fifty years earlier, addressing the same issues. However, his speech presented what could be if Americans ended racial injustices and worked as one. He aimed to convince all who heard him that their nation could become greater if they worked together. Thus, he highlights, in general, some injustices that African Americans had been facing. The gist of his speech was his ‘I have a dream’ refrain, which would serve as a vision for an equal America (Rare Facts, 2017).
Dr. King exudes power and charisma in his speech. He uses these traits to rally the audience behind him. However, he does not override the audience. He allows them to respond or applaud where necessary (Rare Facts, 2017). Meanwhile, Garza employs are more even temperament in her speech. It matches well with her message since she seeks to captivate her audience by presenting event-based facts about racial injustice. Hence, as she recollects the various incidents and victims, she uses a calm tone to maintain the audience’s attention (Citizen University, 2016). However, both speakers are passionate and demonstrate leadership. Their speeches show that they feel the pain they are addressing and are, thus, highly motivated to remedy the situation. Their leadership traits are also discernible since they appear comfortable talking to large audiences. They deliver their speeches effectively and rightfully earn their audience’s attention and support.
Both speakers chose appropriate locations for their speech delivery. Garza chose a National Conference, while Dr. King delivered his speech at the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. He also gave the speech in a church. The live audience allowed both speakers to connect with their audience better. Today, technology allows people to speak through virtual platforms. While they are still effective, the delivery can lack personal contact. Furthermore, it is hard to judge the audience’s immediate reaction. Hence, the messaging is slightly more rigid.
While both speeches address similar issues, there are some remarkable differences in their audience. For example, Dr. King was addressing a large crowd of demonstrators who sought social and economic equality. Meanwhile, Garza spoke to a smaller group of delegates attending the Citizen University National Conference (Citizen University, 2016). Dr. King’s audience sought motivation, while Garza’s was more interested in finding practical solutions to their problem. Hence, her audience was quieter, with minimal applause and reactions. However, Dr. King got more verbal responses and had to take slightly longer pauses to ensure effective delivery. The speeches matched the respective audiences, resulting in clarity and eloquence from both speakers.
Dr. King’s and Alicia Garza’s speeches are ideal examples of effective public speaking. Both speakers demonstrate passion and leadership despite having some unique differences in setting, motivation, and audience. They are also excellent audience readers. Consequently, their speeches are hallmarks in American social movement history.
