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Ethos
Genre
Explanation and Analysis:
The genre of King's oration at the March on Washington could be classified both as a speech and as a sermon. King combines characteristics of secular, political speeches and elements from his career as a Baptist preacher. This combination begins in the first line of the speech: “I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.” This proclamation sounds at once like both a preacher and a politician. He is happy to be gathered here today with his congregation on the National Mall, in phrasing that sounds like the opening of a revival or a wedding. But from there, the introduction turns to his political goals: to make a demonstration for freedom.
The speech, more generally, combines features of political speeches and religious sermons. King refers to the audience as "my friends" and as "all of God's children," sounding like a preacher, and speaks on the specific political issues of the day, including police brutality and disenfranchisement. The speech includes a straightforward and specific thesis: “We’ve come here today to dramatize a shameful condition. In a sense we’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a check.” This sounds like a speech. But then on the other hand, King calls repeatedly on his faith and how it well help lead to freedom and justice in America. King combines these political and religious elements to make a piece of oratory that is at once speech and sermon.
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