Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King's Letter From Birmingham Jail

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[Introduction] Martin Luther King has impacted society in such an extraordinary way. One tactic that was used during his speeches was a tactic known as rhetoric. According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, rhetoric is defined as “the study of writing or speaking as a means of communication or persuasion” (cite) One of Dr. King’s strongest arguments in his “Letter From Birmingham Jail” is on page 9 of the letter. So much is explained about how it is time to make things right now, not in the future, not in years, but now. The time is right for things to be equal now, so why wait? From this paragraph, I interpret that the white moderate is saying what’s the rush? Why is it that you need everything done now? He brings in how it took Christianity …show more content…

King is determined to get equal rights for the colored people because for so many years they have been neglected. Colored people have been treated in an inhumane manner, being brought into America as slaves, abused, killed, and tortured. When they finally get a way to have rights, it is realized that yes, they do have rights, but they are not equal to white people. Dr. King starts explaining that it shouldn’t take time at all the be equal. Time has nothing to do with anything, all he wants is to be equal to the white moderates because that is what they deserve. [elaborate] In the next paragraph, Dr. King then states “Now is the time to make real the promise of democracy and transform our pending national elegy into a creative psalm of brotherhood” (King 9). In this sentence, he explains how now is the right time to equal the negro and white race. No more waiting, it is time that everybody is equal as one, as brothers. [elaborate] He knows that now is the right time to make things better between the colored and white community. [Transition] Dr. King is rather disappointed that his actions are seen as extremist for wanted to have equal rights. In his letter, he explains how because whites have certain degrees think they are superior and profit from segregation, so to them they do not care for what is going on.

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