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Martin Luther King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail analyze
Martin Luther King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail analyze
Critical analysis martin luther king letter from birmingham jail
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Martin Luther King, Jr. used a lot of rhetorical techniques in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” to respond to the eight Clergymen who criticized his actions of no-violent demonstration in Birmingham calling “Unwise and untimely” (Dr. King 3) they said this about his actions. Also, Martin Luther King used a lot of Logos and ethos in his speech to persuade the reader. First and most importantly, Dr. King’s letter was very explanatory about the pain African Americans were going through during segregation. For instance, in his letter he explains, “We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God-given rights” Which means they were very tired of hearing the word “wait” just as used once. (Dr. King4) According to Dr. Martin Ruther King , African American were getting very impatient and things were graving worse. Also, Dr. King was getting tired of raising his children in that kind of environment. He didn’t like the fact his children were experience how African Americans were being called Negro and being treated like animals: Your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six-years-old daughter why she can’t go to go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children, and see ominous clouds of inferiority beginning an unconscious bitterness white people; when you have to concoct an answer for a five-year-old son who is asking “daddy why do white people treat colored people so mean?( Dr. king 5) Dr. Martin Luther King used common sense to prove the clergymen that they should act as Christian instead of acting like unbeliever. The definition of being a Christian is to treat everybody as... ... middle of paper ... ...that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear drenched communities” (Dr, king 10). Dr. King believed that one day African American will be treated fairly and also every citizen will be treated one another will love and respect. As a result of Dr. King action, there is no fear anymore toward one another. The most importantly, citizen children don’t have to ask their parents why white people don’t like color people. Dr. King is a very articulate person because he measures his words carefully and knows what he wants to say by expressing himself easily and confidently which makes the leaders understand him. Dr. King is very articulate person because he measures his words carefully and knows he wants to say by expressing himself easily and confidently which makes the leader understand him.
Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail", was written to answer a critical "Call For Unity" by a group of clergymen in Birmingham. The clergymen were critical of King for "interloping" in the activities of their city. Dr. King said that he had every right to fight unfairness in the country that he lived in. The letter he wrote, in response to the "Call for Unity", and a statement that he would battle racial inequality wherever it was. The "Letter from Birmingham Jail" was the main point in his life. In this letter, he perfectly described his reasons why he felt this way, appealing to logic, emotion, and ethics.
...th his people. He called upon the black man to remain calm and coherent, and to show restraint against his aggressive white oppressors. By publicizing the brutality in which most African-Americans in the southern states suffered, Dr. King was proficient in gaining support from the “white moderate.” With swaying this large population of the general public, the Civil Rights Movement gained momentum and was thrown into the public eye of the nation. I expect that this letter was not blissfully received by the members of the clergy who were content with maintaining the current status quo, but created the tension needed to progress the Civil Rights movement forward.
Finally, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s response to article by eight Alabama Clergymen contains strong arguments that are logical, emotional, and credential. Dr. King introduces his position and his activities to audience, he states that his organization has connections with other organizations, and he uses emotional appeals and personal comparison to convince his reader that his activities are reasonable.
To begin with, Dr Martin Luther King influenced his audience through the use of written techniques. A written technique applied in the speech is repetition, which is the restatement of words or phrases.
Martin Luther King Jr. uses the rhetorical appeal of Logos to provide a sense of logic and reason within his letter. When he is accused of resorting to demonstrations rather than attempting negotiations King provides his four step plan to a successful nonviolent campaign, listing direct action as the final step and negotiations as the second. This point peacefully refutes the clergymen’s accusations and does not provoke a new argument. King also uses facts to prove a point such as, “There have been more unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches in Birmingham than and city in the nation.” (King, ¶-5) This quotation validates King’s reasoning to be in Birmingham for demonstrations and not just negotiation.
Martin Luther King Jr. makes excellent use of all three of Aristotle’s appeals to respond to the clergymen’s accusations. However, he took most advantage of the emotional appeal in order to move the reader and to be able to capture the attention of his audience. Dr. King was one of the greatest speakers in history. He was able to move millions of people with his powerful speeches. Once again, he is successful.
After being jailed in the Birmingham city jail, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist minister who preached nonviolence, wrote this response to a published statement by eight fellow clergymen from Alabama. This letter was not only composed under somewhat constricting circumstances but was written in a way that can be analyzed to be considered as a classic argument. Not only does it contain the five elements needed in a rhetorical situation, but the letter includes the six parts of an argument, the five types of claims, and even the three types of proofs. Dr. King’s letter fully satisfies all requirements needed in order to be considered a classic argument.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of our greatest leaders. MLK had lived in a harsh segregated time while living as a pacifist. In his lifetime he has accomplished many achievements like protesting rights that African Americans didn’t have and also started marches and bus boycotts. One of his most famous marches was called the “March on Washington.” The “March on Washington” was a huge march for Dr. King, many people of different races had participated. Shortly after the march everyone gathered at the Memorial to hear MLK’s speech about how African Americans have suffered for natural rights. The speech was broadcasted worldwide and has inspired many people. In MLK’s speech he used many different literary elements to persuade and get the the people see where his is coming from. In order for people to understand the meaning of MLK’s speech, we have to know why and how he used allusion and anaphora to persuade his audience.
Martin Luther King, Jr. is known to be a civil rights activist, humanitarian, a father, and a clergyman. He is well known for fighting for the equal rights of colored people and ending discrimination. King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail is an important part of history that showed King’s opinion of a letter that he happened to read in the newspaper written by a group of clergyman. In this letter, the group of clergyman report that colored people, also known as black people, are being violent towards Birmingham City. Also, the clergymen believed the time that will allow segregation to be diminished was not happening anytime soon because it is not convenient. King refuted the clergymen’s argument in a variety of ways using tactics of argumentation and persuasion like appeal to emotion through real life examples, appeal to logic, and even articulating certain phrases through metaphors and word choice. Many of these different tactics of argumentation and persuasion made his letter very effective and is now seen as a great piece that is looked upon highly today.
The letter was written during the 1960’s when people, white people in particular, believed that segregating African Americans was civil and humane. Furthermore, white people thought that African Americans were an inferior race. King includes the following in his letter: “I doubt that you would so quickly commend the policemen if you were to observe their ugly and inhumane treatment of Negroes here in the city jail; if you were to watch them push and curse old Negro women and young Negro girls…” (p.187) Martin Luther King’s purpose of writing is to address this occasion of racism and cruelty towards African Americans living in the United States of America. In the letter, King attempts to appeal to multiple audiences. His first major audience is the eight Alabama clergymen. King’s letter is a direct response to them and their belief that the non-violent protests occurring in the city create tension and are unlawful. Another audience is the white moderate who does not take a stance on the issue of African Americans having basic human rights. By
King gets his point across, that segregation is unfair and morally not right, and that man has a responsibility to act against unjust laws, by using many different strategies throughout the letter. He uses logos, pathos, and ethos to do so. While using these devices he shows emotion, gives logic to his reasoning’s and gives credibility as well. First and foremost, King calmly responded to the statement from the clergymen that his non-violent direct action was “unwise and untimely”. King logically does so by describing the situation where the negro leaders tried many times to negotiate with the city fathers to remove racial barriers, but the promises never held true.
Martin Luther King Jr’s “Letter from Birmingham”, is such a powerful document because of how each part of it is meticulously worded. From the start of the letter he makes an emotional connection to the reader, which is smart because that gives the reader a slight personal feel to what’s being talked about. Then there are the areas that states facts a specific evidence with respectable sources, this looks to attract the attention of realist. Last, there are his personal experience that readers respect, because when people discuss topic they have experience there is a more genuine care for it. King made this letter able to affect many people who have different mind sets. At the end of the letter he states “I hope this letter finds you strong in the faith. I also hope that circumstances will soon make it possible for me to meet each of you, not as an integrationist or a civil-rights leader but as a fellow clergyman and a Christian brother. Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear drenched communities, and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty.” Dr. King last words were of much respect and hoping that the differences of each could end and become
...King, Jr. also used allusions from credible sources, such as the philosophers Socrates, the reformer Martin Luther, and Abraham Lincoln to emphasize how his view point is widespread. He also included Jewish Rabbi Martin Buber and Catholic St. Thomas Aquinas to show how members of his audiences’ faiths have even supported his viewpoint.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. uses the appeal of ethos from the beginning until the end of his speech. Because he was talking about African-American people, his own race that were dealing with racism and discrimination. However, Dr. King uses all the rhetorical devices in many ways to the best of his ability to gain the favor of his audience, and he made an unforgettable and effectively speech that made an impact on America. His main purpose was to fight for the equal rights of African-American people and in order for him to do that, he aided the civil rights to help his own race to improve their
King traveled the country making speeches and inspiring people to become involved in the Civil Rights Movement. He organized non-violent student sit-ins and fought for the rights of the black population. In his speech, he proclaimed a free and better nation of equality and that both races, the blacks and the whites, should join together to achieve common ground and to support each other instead of fighting against one another. King’s vision is that all people should be judged by their “personality and character and not by their color of skin”(‘I Have a Dream”). All the points he made in his speech were so strong that lots of people were interested in his thoughts. He dreamed of a land where the blacks could vote and have a reason to vote and where every citizen would be treated the same and with the same justice.