Through the speech “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop”, Martin Luther King Jr. wants to give hope to the audience. The speech primarily concerns the Memphis Sanitation Strike. As I listened to Ralph Abernathy and his eloquent and generous introduction and then thought about myself, I wondered who he was talking about. T (…) Reflection on MLK’s “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” This year at Hanley Elementary a kindergartener was hit by a car while she was walking home from school. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. He was in Memphis, Tennessee for the Memphis Sanitation Strike.The sanitation (garbage) workers in Memphis were on strike because they got paid very little, and their work was dangerous. I’ve Been to the Mountaintop is a prophetic speech inasmuch as he was encouraging the audience with what he envisioned the results of the Civil Rights struggle. I will let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.". And I don’t mind. Before they reach it however, Moses is informed by God that, because of an incident in which he did not follow God's directions, he will not reach the land himself, but will only see it from a distance. He warned the protesters not to engage in violence lest the issue of injustice be ignored because of the focus on the violence. Rhetorical Analysis: I’ve Been to the Mountaintop Martin Luther King, Jr. was the predominant leader of the Civil Rights Movement to end racial discrimination and segregation in the latter half of the twentieth century. "I've Been to the Mountaintop" is the popular name of the last speech delivered by Martin Luther King Jr.[1][2][3]. In preparation for the anniversary for Martin Luther King Jr., I went ahead and wanted to produce a song that caters to one of his most famous speeches. The speech “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” by Dr. Martin Luther King was addressed on 3rd of April, 1968 to the audience gathered at the Mason temple in Memphis, during the Memphis sanitation strike. “Because I’ve been to the mountaintop,” he declared in a trembling voice. Well, I don’t know what will happen now. I just want to do God’s will. I just want to do God's will. The speech motivates listeners to fight against social injustice even at the darkest of times, and to push forward until the light can shine through even the darkest of areas. Well, I don't know what will happen now. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Individually, we are poor when you compare us with white society in America. The Memphis sanitation strike had started earlier in February and was caused by the fact that sanitation workers — mostly African Americans – had endured years of poor pay and dangerous working conditions. I may not get there with you. Audio http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkivebeentothemountaintop.htm But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop. As Jesse Jackson has said, up to now, only the garbage men have been feeling pain; now we must kind of redistribute the pain.[1]. I still cringe at the thought of losing a student in the Hanley community. I’ve been to the Mountaintop. Like anybody, I would like to live – a long life; longevity has its place. We are going on.[1]. Cheers and applause erupted. But I'm not concerned about that now. The issue is the refusal of Memphis to be fair and honest in its dealings with its public servants, who happen to be sanitation workers.[1]. I believe the speech “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” given By Dr. Martin Luther King is a great example of Ethos, Logos, and Pathos, verbal and non verbal communication. Martin Luther King (MLK) begins his speech “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” by thanking the audience and Ralph Abernathy for introducing him. As a world-renowned spokesperson advocating nonviolent protest, many of his speeches were centered on peaceful ways to change the unfair treatment and segregation of blacks. The following day, King was killed by a sniper's bullet while standing on the balcony of the motel where he was staying. Somewhere I read of the freedom of press. Regarding economic boycotts, King advocated boycotting white goods as a means of nonviolent protest. Only members can read the full content. Although the industries might not listen to protests, they would be forced to listen to boycotts lest they be driven out of business. King was referring to events described in the Biblical book of Deuteronomy. Excerpt from “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” Now the other thing we’ll have to do is this: Always anchor our external direct action with the power of economic withdrawal. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. June 14, 2015 gracethepirate Leave a comment. “But it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop … I’ve seen the Promised Land. The strike took place in the context of the larger Civil Rights Movement which had started in 1954 and which had the goal of ending segregation and discrimination against African Americans. Toward the end of the speech, King refers to threats against his life and uses language that prophetically foreshadowed his impending death, but reaffirming that he was not afraid to die: Well, I don't know what will happen now. “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop”, is the name of the final speech given by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee, at Mason Temple on April, 3, 1968. 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