Analysis Of Letter From Birmingham Jail

In “Letter from Birmingham Jail” Martin Luther King Jr, responds to various criticisms directed against him by the white Clergymen. King responds to the criticisms in a professional manner but with a twist. He uses a respectable tone since they are men of good will. The white Clergymen publish an open letter about the racial problems in Alabama. The letter was direct to the outsider of their community, which was King. King agrees with some of the main points that the Clergymen said, but he turns what they say around on them. He uses important people and symbols to make his point across. Two criticisms that King uses are “unwise and untimely” and “tension”. For example, the Clergymen show how the police are doing their job as good law enforcers.

In the following quote “when you have seen hate-filled policemen curse, kick, and ever kill your black brothers and sister – then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait.” King uses three words that were very significant when he say, “cursed, kick and kill.” These words were very shocking when reading them, for a law enforcer to verbally abuse someone and then physically hurt and take someone life. Even though law enforcer, has so much power, they should not abuse their power. King illustrates how everyone in the community is considering brothers and sisters as a whole. Uniting as a community and not individual is what going to make them strong. Out of the three appeals king uses pathos in this quote, which is using emotions as your examples. By King, using emotions he was able to let the people feel what was happening other than just telling

In the following quote he writes, “I doubt that you would have so warmly commended the police force if you had seen its dogs sinking their teeth into unarmed, nonviolent Negroes. If you were to watch them push and curse old Negro women and young Negro girls; 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. I cannot join you in your praise of the Birmingham police department.” In this quote, King shows how the police officers would let the dogs out to bite the Negroes. It would be more understanding if the Negros were retaliating with violence. However, they were doing nonviolence protest and the police would use violent attack against the people. The police were treating the Negros as if they were not human just because they look physically different. This is unbelievable because you would not expect law enforcers to mistreat old Negro women and young Negro girls. They were not just picking on one group of people; they would bully people from young to old. Dr. King agrees to the point that they need to have law enforcement; however, he cannot join this group of law enforcers. They are not being fair to the people in the community and they are using their power in a negative