Essays

Power of Words

Disclaimer: Please remember, I provide these essays to you as an outline for your own. Plagiarism, using one's work as your own, can have severe consequences. There are many tools integrated into teaching software that can detect plagiarism. It's also as easy as plugging in one sentence into Google to find this essay. I want these to be available to all those that may need an outline or inspiration for their own assignments, however, I know some have used my work and have been caught. Please, don't just copy and paste my work and earn yourself a zero on the essay or fail your class. Thank you for reading and I truly hope that these essays will help. Good luck! If you ever need a peer reviewer for your essay, message me! I SEE YOU EL D STUDENTS :(

This was my semester final essay for English. The prompt was: How do words have the power to provoke, calm, and inspire? The evidence we used is from the Civil Rights Movement.

Vibrations and Scribbles

Whether they are formed by vibrations in the air, or by the scribbles we write on paper, the words we communicate can affect the people who listen to them. This grouping of letters, stitched together into a coherent piece, can draw out the parts of us that can do anything. This was especially apparent during the Civil Rights Movement. During this time there were many oppressed people, the majority being African Americans. They fought for their natural rights and against the racism projected towards them. Also during this time, multiple leaders rose and influenced people across America and around the world. One of these leaders was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., known now by his I Have A Dream speech, his marches, and his Letter from Birmingham Jail. Another leader at this time was Robert F. Kennedy, who was a presidential candidate and recognized for his speech announcing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s death titled the Kennedy Remarks. Both of these people were able to affect their audiences with the power of their words. When chained together properly, the words we share can have a tremendous effect on everyone around us. Both Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy were able to join words together, and use their power to provoke, calm, and inspire people everywhere.

At times, provoke is a term used in a negative context. It may be used during a time of anger and malice, but it can also be used to cause something to occur. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. used his word to help provoke change in his discriminatory world. In 1963, responding to a letter from his jail cell, MLK wrote what is now called the Letter from Birmingham Jail. Within this letter, he included valid explanations for his actions in Birmingham and examples of injustices towards African Americans.  MLK used his words to help provoke change against these injustices. In the letter, MLK describes some of the occurrences during marches such as "dogs sinking their teeth into unarmed, nonviolent Negroes" (King 285). This shows one of the ways that African Americans were being mistreated. He also describes incidents just as violent as before happening within the city jail. He describes that policemen "push and curse old Negro women and young Negro girls... slap and kick old Negro men and young Negro boys... [and] on two occasions, refuse to give [them] food" (King 285). MLK used these examples of negligence to provoke emotion from people who knew this treatment was wrong and encourage them to stand against that kind of abuse. We can use our words to provoke the good in people to raise their own voice and stand for what is right.

There are many points throughout our days that will inspire us. It could be a plant, an animal, a piece of art, or a person. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a person that inspired many using the power of his words. During one of his most memorable speeches, I Have A Dream, he influenced many to fight for a better future. His words encouraged them to fight for a day when "the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood" (King 263). MLK wanted his audience to look forward to when that might actually occur. He wanted them to be able to see a day when "they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character" (King 263). MLK's words helped to enlighten mistreatment and injustices and bring hope that there would be a better future. The ideas we express through our words are able to touch and inspire the world for a change.

When we are in the wake of heartache and might feel as if the world is to blame, we look towards others for help to calm us. Robert F. Kennedy helped to do this in 1968 when addressing a distressed audience about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. After the initial shock had worn off, Kennedy continued his speech knowing what they might be feeling saying, "For those of you who are black and are tempted to be filled with hatred and mistrust of the injustice of such an act... I would only say that I can feel in my own heart the same kind of feeling" (Kennedy 5). Kennedy expresses that they are not alone in feeling grief and sadness from MLK's death. He shows them that MLK affected them all and that they shouldn't lash out because others, even some of different races, are feeling sadness as well. He then continues saying, "... we have to make an effort to understand, to get beyond and go beyond these rather difficult times" (Kennedy 6). Kennedy then asks his audience to follow in what MLK would want to happen. Not for them to lash out in violence and hatred, but to try and love and understand. The power of our words can help to calm one another in times of need.

The simplest words we speak can have the ability to provoke, calm, and inspire the people around us. During the Civil Rights Movement, both Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy were able to use this power and help others. They provoked change to occur, inspired people to stand for what was right and calm people when tragedy struck. Our words can not only affect a small group or audience around us; if we allow our voice and words to be heard, then we can change the world.

A/N: I'm so happy that this essay turned out well!!!! I was really surprised at the grade I got... 100%!!!!! This was very, VERY surprising since I literally wrote this the night before it was due (sorry Ms. Elder) and I finished it at 11:20 pm... well I'm still proud!!😂😅