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Leadership techniques used by Martin Luther King Jr
Leadership techniques used by Martin Luther King Jr
Leadership techniques used by Martin Luther King Jr
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The famous “I have a dream” speech given by Martin Luther King Junior (Jr.) sent a shockwave across the United States and forever changed the meaning of freedom and equal rights for all mankind. The way in which Martin Luther went about in bringing change for the black man and woman was brilliant and very effective. Although many things contributed to the Civil Rights Movement to bring about the radical change, Martin Luther’s rhetoric and stylistic devices throughout his speeches and...The king demonstrates In Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, he uses an authoritative voice, analogies, allusions, and ethical appeals that make his argument more relatable and compelling. In comparison, his authorial counterpart, David Foster Wallace in “Consider the Lobster”, lacks the similar confidence in his stylistic and rhetorical devices making his argument weak and less convincing. In referencing the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther expresses his arguments, logic, and reasoning in a way that is strong, urgent, and passionate and this comes across …show more content…
in his pathos. He explains to the clergymen why he is so upset; “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny” (1). King effectively uses the resource of language to engage his audience and force them to understand his urgency for his argument. For example, the words “injustice”, “threat”, and “inescapable” are all ideas that stir emotions (blank blank) in the average American to promote change and, in the King’s words, justice. Furthermore, his topic is real, relevant, and important. This is very much unlike David Foster Wallace’s argument about whether or not lobsters should be killed at festivals. Even though his issue may be important, it cannot compare to a human race being treated unfairly and even killed in and of itself. Therefore, his argument also does not compare to the persuasive factor in Martin Luther King’s letter. Wallace lacks a passionate and urgent voice that is essential to convincing his audience, and he loses the sense of urgency that a change must be done. “I am also concerned not to come off as shrill or preachy when what I really am is confused” (64). The two very different styles of articles each have a specific writing style to persuade its reader.
In this instance, David Foster Wallace explains his logos in a more factual way, while Martin Luther King Jr. uses a variety of different stylistic devices, such as metaphors, analogies, facts, allusions, to explain his. “The nervous system of a lobster is very simple… It is decentralized with no brain. There is no cerebral cortex… the cerebral cortex is involved in what’s variously called suffering, distress…”(62). Even though the strategy is effective in raising awareness and making readers question their moral stance, it does not evoke emotions and change the reader's mind to believe the argument being presented. Simply presenting facts is not enough. Martin Luther goes further in depth to really help his reader to understand his take on the issue and get them to realize that a change needs to be
done. Martin Luther’s article was more effective on the grounds of ethical appeal because he is an African American and knew what those people were facing, feeling, and how they were being treated at that exact point in history. “...when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at your whim…” (4). David Wallace does not have the ethos like Martin Luther has. His view is from an outsider looking in, an observer. This role can have its benefits, however it is easier to be an outsider looking in, then one who is actively involved, sees a problem, and then advocates for a change. If he had been someone who had participated in the Lobster Festival for many years, recognized that eating lobster may not be right, then advocated for change, his argument would have been more reliable and convincing. He would have known firsthand what it was like at the Lobster Festival. Paragraph on Counterclaim Overall, Martin Luther King’s letter, “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, he successfully uses an strong voice, analogies and allusions, and ethical appeals to make his argument convincing and compelling to his audience. On the other hand, David Foster Wallace’s article, “Consider the Lobster” takes on a softer, more exploratory approach in his voice and stylistic and rhetorical devices that is less effective in persuading his reader. The King uses stronger words to evoke emotions in his reader and get them to understand that there is a problem with racism. On the contrary, Wallace does not reveal his opinion until later in his article and take on an exploratory approach to make his reader think about his or her moral standings on inhumane killing of lobsters.
... and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "Letter From Birmingham Jail" are very different in terms of literary technique and approach, the two works bear some uncanny similarities that yield some surprising likenesses in many aspects. The comparisons and contrasts drawn here highlight the most significant of those features with respect to the works of two men who are both revered for the virtues they espoused during their lifetimes.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote his famous “A Letter from the Birmingham Jail” on April 16, 1963 while he was imprisoned in the Birmingham Jail for being involved in nonviolent protests against segregation. The letter is directed at eight white clergymen from Alabama who were very cynical and critical towards African Americans in one of their statements. Throughout the letter, King maintains an understanding yet persistent tone by arguing the points of the clergymen and providing answers to any counterarguments they may have. In the letter, King outlines the goals of his movement and says that he will fight racial inequality wherever it may be. Dr. King uses the appeal three main rhetorical devices – ethos, logos, and pathos – in order to firmly, yet politely, argue the clergymen on the injustices spoken of in their statement.
If he had not made clear that he was a trustworthy, knowledgeable, and honest man, he would not have made his point clear. King’s statement “Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever,” (Martin Luther King 24) is a strong reminder of history. If people do not realize their emotions in a nonviolent way, they will seek violence until they are heard. That statement is one of the strongest concerns to show why direct action was important, as well as, convincing the reader to consider their immoral practices. King goes above any beyond in sharing his beliefs because if he had not, the audience would not have been persuaded. Furthermore, the information and evidence he demonstrated was necessary at that
In “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” Martin Luther King, Jr. uses a catalogue of personal experiences in order to appeal to the emotions of the reader, also called pathos, by utilizing concrete language, semicolons, and lengthy sentences. He not only entices the emotions of the fellow clergymen he is addressing, but also society in general, attempting to reveal the true situation of the oppressed Negroes during this time in the Civil Rights Movement.
Whether or not one agrees with the actual message or content of the “letter from Birmingham jail”’ it is apparent that the appeal to logos is a convincing one. When a strong case needs to be made falling back on the rational use of thought will always bring integrity to the speaker. Even a supremely personal or delicate subject can be maneuvered when logic is employed. To simply quote the late great Dr. King, “a lie cannot live”. (Jr.)
In the pursuit of sharing struggles of unjustness, inequality, and racism David Foster Wallace and Martin Luther King Jr. reveal their stories, focusing on morality. “Consider the Lobster”, by David Foster Wallace, addresses the possible inhumaneness in the cooking of lobster, and inhumanness and injustice is addressed once again, in a different form- the form of racism, in “Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr. Both articles utilize pathos and stylistic devices in order to create an effective, persuasive essay.
Recently you have received a letter from Martin Luther King Jr. entitled “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” In Dr. King’s letter he illustrates the motives and reasoning for the extremist action of the Civil Rights movement throughout the 1960’s. In the course of Dr. King’s letter to you, he uses rhetorical questioning and logistical reasoning, imagery and metaphors, and many other rhetorical devices to broaden your perspectives. I am writing this analysis in hopes you might reconsider the current stance you have taken up regarding the issues at hand.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” was written while he was “confined in the Birmingham city jail.” His letter was a direct response to the eight Alabama clergymen who insisted that King’s use of nonviolent direct action was unlawful. The clergymen questioned his method of protests even though they had similar goals as King. In his letter, King illustrates the hardships and injustices that African Americans in the United States were enduring during the mid-twentieth century; doing so allows King to justify the nonviolent actions of his fellow protestors. King uses the classical appeals of ethos, pathos, and logos, along with his rhetorical situation, to support his claims about the racial discrimination and segregation in the United States.
The Letter from Birmingham Jail was written in 1963 by Martin Luther King, Jr. During this period, the African Americans were involved in a battle for white and black equality. This is evident from the vocabulary used by King including “Negro” which was common during that period but not used commonly afterwards. Moreover, the letter’s context tells it argues that King wanted was African Americans to have freedom. The letter’s purpose is that King wants to persuade the clergymen what he together with his people were demonstrating since it was extremely necessary during that period. In achieving this, King utilizes persuasive and condemnatory tones so that the reader can consent with him. King Luther King, the author of Letter from Birmingham Jail, presents a valid argument through the use of ethos, pathos, and logos in the entire piece with the intention of explaining his actions and changing the audience’s opinions.
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.
In Martin Luther King’s letter from Birmingham Jail, pathos, ethos, and logos are vividly expressed throughout it. All three rhetorical devices are vital to the meaning of the letter; the most influential being pathos. MLK takes advantage of the human body’s strong response to emotion. It is illustrated in his appeal to empathy, exercised mainly through gruesome depictions; his call for action to his peers, as shown when he expresses his disappointment in them as they preserve order over justice; and his strategic use of pathos as a supporting effort for both ethos and logos arguments.
King utilizes the rhetorical strategy of ethos to justify his presence in Birmingham to the white clergymen. He was in Birmingham to help the civil rights movement, using peaceful protests. While he resided in jail for parading without a permit he received a letter from a group of clergymen. These clergymen told King that he should not be using such drastic means to achieve his goal of equality. King peacefully replies with his Letter From Birmingham Jail proving to these men that he had every right to be in their city.
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail” was written to address the public criticism he and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference received from eight clergymen. In his letter, King shows off his fiery emotion throughout his letter. However, King does not force his beliefs upon his readers. Rather, he hopes that his readers will see his perspective on the situation through an emotional appeal. If the readers are able to recognize the injustice and inequality suffered by the African American community, perhaps they can. The fourteenth and fifteenth paragraphs were a true testament to his passion and ambition for equal rights.
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.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was the leader of a peaceful movement to end segregation in the United States this mission led him in 1963 to Birmingham, Alabama where officials and leaders in the community actively fought against desegregation. While performing sit-ins, marches and other nonviolent protests, King was imprisoned by authorities for violating the strict segregation laws. While imprisoned King wrote a letter entitled “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, in which he expresses his disappointment in the clergy, officials, and people of Birmingham. This letter employed pathos to argue that the leaders and ‘heroes’ in Birmingham during the struggle were at fault or went against their beliefs.