It was his accomplishments in laying the foundation of racial equality that provided confidence in his ability to rebuild class structure. .
Furthermore, King's plethora of experience in rhetorical discourse explains his expertise on the subject of rhetoric. By practicing effective rhetoric during the Civil Rights Movement, King accomplished his goals as a rhetor. The impact of this success and experience can be seen in his rhetoric, as King demonstrates less conservatism when he details the shortcomings of the nation. Through King's undeniable moral character, his role as a civil rights leader and his substantial experience as a rhetor, he is motivated and influenced by his larger vision of moral principles: it is not what divides us, but what we share in common that is significant in society. .
Secondly, noting the occasion of the speech serves an opportunity to identify the elements that influenced the subject and Martin Luther King's point of view. The Anti-Vietnam Movement (Columbia Encyclopedia, 2004) began in 1965 with massive efforts centered at universities by college students. The year of 1967 was a turning point for the movement. Urban riots resulted in a war on the streets and conflict on college campuses. President Johnson was losing his justification for the war and the media magnified groups in opposition. .
During such a chaotic time where the nation was divided in conflict, Martin Luther King recognized the injustices of war and delivered a speech in hopes of giving a non-violent voice to the movement. With society split by opinions, King was influenced by the occasion and made it an opportunity to speak out and encourage others to take action. .
Lastly, understanding the audience helps explain the selection of Martin Luther King's rhetorical strategies. The audience that King delivered his speech to was comprised of 3,000 clergy and laity of Riverside Church (Martin Luther King Papers Project, 2002).