Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech is one of the most iconic speeches in American history. King’s address to the crowd gathered at the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963, was a defining moment in the civil rights movement. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the fact that King aborted the preplanned structure, yet still delivered a powerful and successful speech.
King had originally planned to deliver a speech focused on the theme of African Americans’ role in American Dream. However, during the address, he departed from his prepared text and began to improvise. This departure from the initial plan was due to King’s ability to read the mood of the audience and deliver a speech that resonated with them. He abandoned the formal structure and began to speak from the heart, sharing his vision for a better America.
The success of the speech can be attributed to the timely use of the audience’s mood. King recognized the energy and enthusiasm of the crowd and capitalized on it, using his words to inspire and motivate them. He spoke directly to the hearts of the audience, tapping into their hopes and dreams, and urging them to join him in the fight for justice and equality.
In conclusion, the speech was successful despite departure from the original plan. King’s words were not only heard by the thousands gathered at the Lincoln Memorial but by millions more who watched or listened to the broadcast of the speech. King’s performance showcases how important it is to properly interpret the audience’s mood and adjust the speech to the circumstances even if it means aborting the original script.