TOW #22 RFK Speech

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/rfkonmlkdeath.html
This speech given by Robert F. Kennedy, brother of President John F. Kennedy, is in memoriam of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In this address to the public of America, wrote artfully and used many rhetorical devices not only make the public aware of the tragic happenings that had gone on but also to convey MLK's message of racial harmony. One would expect the diction in a remembrance address would be soft and non offensive, RFK did not follow this pattern. He used blunt diction all through out his speech. He first, instead of talking of MLK's "passing" or another euphemism for death, he directly stated that he was "shot and killed." RFK also instead of trying to sugar coat the issue if racial separation, he addressed the two races as black or white. This unyielding diction conveys the serious condition of their situation. Bluntly referring to his death as a death and not something softer makes people realize that this was not just a "passing away" but a serious and deliberate shooting. By labeling the races as he did creates a greater divide between them, which makes MLK's resolve even more pertinent. RFK also makes an allusion to "his favorite poet" Aeschylus. He alludes to a poem of his about stepping past pain and moving into acceptance and wisdom. He then uses this poem to help teach the black community to forgive but never forget about what ha happened that day.