Final answer:
Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech was a rhetorical masterpiece delivered during a significant event in the Civil Rights Movement, aiming to inspire and affect change towards racial equality. In contrast, presidential proclamations, such as those by President Obama, serve as formal statements on policy, intention, or recognition.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference between Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech and presidential proclamations, such as those from President Obama, is rooted in both purpose and context. Dr. King's speech was delivered during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement. The speech contained powerful and enduring statements about racial equality and justice, and it made use of prophetic, biblical rhetoric to capture the moral urgency of the civil rights struggle. King's dream was a vision of a world without racial discrimination, a message that galvanized a nation and helped to place civil rights at the top of the political agenda.
In contrast, a presidential proclamation is an official document through which Presidents communicate their intentions, call the public's attention to certain issues, or celebrate certain individuals or events. These documents are formal and are part of the duties and responsibilities of the presidency. While President Obama's proclamations may convey messages of unity, inspiration, or policy direction, they are typically not as rhetorically charged or as transformative as King's speech, which was a call to the nation to fulfill its promise of equality.