Influence Strategy Map & Signature I Have A Dream The Influence Strategies of Mar4n Luther King: Mapping the Strategies Behind His Dream A 50th Anniversary Analysis of MLK’s I Have a Dream Speech Washington, D.C., 1963 Presented by Playmaker Systems, LLC Bethesda, MD USA [email protected] 301-­‐654-­‐6500 Copyright © 2006-­‐2013 Playmaker Systems, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Rev. 8.26.13 On the 50th Anniversary of Dr. Mar4n Luther King Jr.'s historic I Have a Dream speech, the late reverend’s words are by now well known. But what were the influence strategies behind his messages? What were the plays that were being running? And can this inform our understanding of the man’s power and process? Using The Standard Table of Influence (see last page or click here for an interac4ve version), Playmaker Systems has iden4fied underlying influence plays of King's August 28, 1963 address. From these findings cer4fied analysts have constructed a first-­‐of-­‐a-­‐kind map and signature of this American icon’s strategic and soaring rhetoric. King’s Influence Strategy Map. Shown on pages three and four is a two-­‐part 4meline of plays that correspond to 15 selected passages in famous King’s speech. The resul4ng influence map of plobed stratagems and their associated quotes reveals a marked varia4on of plays beneath King’s narra4ve. Those instances where plays are paired together are called harmonics, a conven4on for coding content where two or more plays are observed. MLK’s Influence Strategy Signature. Shown on page five is a composite of these mapped plays as they appear on The Standard Table. The size of each icon indicates the frequency of use of a given coded play. According to this analysis, King's influence strategies of choice were the Screen (5 uses), Challenge (4 uses), Call Out (2 uses), Fiat (2 uses), Label (2 uses), Mirror (2 uses), Recast (2 uses), Bear Hug (1) and Disco (1 use). Plays shown in grey were not observed. What is notable about this signature is the concentra4on of mid-­‐spectrum stratagems known for their abili4es to condi4on a target. With the excep4on of the Call Out, a provoking play that emerges twice, King employs a diversity of influence strategies – 9 of 24 – in the frame, freeze and press subclasses of The Table. With the excep4on of the Recast play, he appears only to be aided by strategies with mid-­‐ to high-­‐ transparency ra4ngs (i.e., no Red Herring plays). Mar4n Luther King is rightly honored as an American hero and a champion for racial equality. And as judged by the Playmaker system, his greatest work reflects both an ac4ve use of plays but largely those that are neither subtle, harsh nor hard to interpret. In fact, the good reverend was a man of rhetorical modera4on and candor...and an expert prac44oner in the discipline of influence strategy. Copyright © 2005-­‐2013 Playmaker Systems, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 2 Notable Influence Plays of Dr. Mar4n Luther King Jr. Washington, D.C., August 28, 1963 Influence Strategy Map I Have A Dream SCREEN Five score years ago, a great American [Abraham Lincoln], in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipa?on Proclama?on. CALL OUT America has given the negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked “insufficient funds.” RECAST But we refuse to believe that the bank of jus?ce is bankrupt. MIRROR 100 years later, the negro…finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we’ve come here today to drama?ze a shameful condi?on. FIAT We’ve come to our na?on’s capital to cash a check. For details, click a play above or visit The Standard Table of Influence FIAT There will neither be rest nor tranquility in America un?l the negro is granted his ci?zenship rights. CHALLENGE + DISCO But there is something I must say to my people…we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Cont. SCREEN All men…would be guaranteed to the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Copyright © 2005-­‐2013 Playmaker Systems, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 3 Influence Strategy Map I Have A Dream CHALLENGE + CALL OUT We can never be sa?sfied as long as there are…unspeakable horrors…signs sta?ng “for whites only”…[blacks] who cannot vote. CHALLENGE + BEAR HUG And when this happens…all God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and gen?les, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing. LABEL + SCREEN Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last! RECAST + SCREEN We will all be able to sing with new meaning: My country, ‘?s of thee, sweet land of liberty. CHALLENGE This na?on will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-­‐evident that all men are created equal. Cont. LABEL + SCREEN I s?ll have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. For details, click a play above or visit The Standard Table of Influence MIRROR [Alabama’s] governor having his lips dripping with the words of “interposi?on” and “nullifica?on.” Copyright © 2005-­‐2013 Playmaker Systems, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 4 Influence Strategy Signature I Have A Dream SCREEN (SN): The borrowing of issues, ideas, events or symbols to project or protect a posi4on For details, click a play above or visit The Standard Table of Influence Notable Influence Plays of Dr. Mar4n Luther King Jr. Washington, D.C., August 28, 1963 CHALLENGE (CH):
The suggestion
or exhortation by
a player to adopt
or modify a
position. Copyright © 2005-­‐2013 Playmaker Systems, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 5