Discussion Board 7

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Discussion Board 7

Ethos refer to the manner in which speakers establish credibility and trustworthiness to their readers. The first-way King does this is by taking into perspective and considering his background and profession. King is a Baptist minister, and he reads Biblical verses to his audience. He says phrases such as “it came as a joyous daybreak at the end of the loving night of their captivity.” The use of appropriate vocabulary can also establish ethos. It can also be established by the use of professional formats and correct grammar. Dr. Martin Luther King does precisely that; his choice of words and grammar are meticulous. He quickly establishes ethos as he can pass across his message with ease and conviction and, in the process moving and inspiring the masses that at times comprised hundreds and thousands of people. King speaks in a professional tone that appeals not only the African American people but also to Native Americans. Because he was a person of color, King was best placed to relate to the discrimination and segregation issues that people of color faced. The problems were mostly predominant in the southern states where slavery was widespread. Because of this, crowds and everybody watching King would cheer him. In the speech, King says, “We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with fatigue of travel, cannot gain logging in motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities…. As long as the Negro’s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. Notably, King employs inclusive pronouns such as “our” and “we” in his speech. This reassures his followers that they should not worry because they were in it together.