Martin Luther King Letter From Birmingham Jail

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (King 2). Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the most celebrated heroes of the Civil Rights Movement. His work is recognized across the world as a major factor to the end of legalized race discrimination in the United States. He was martyred for his “nonviolent direct action,” but was regaled nationally for understanding that the struggle of black people in Birmingham was truly no different than the struggle of blacks in Atlanta, Washington D.C, or anywhere else in the country. In his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” Dr. King demonstrates the interrelatedness of black struggle by appealing to the sense of community of his opposing audience.
King’s first tactic in making his audience feel as though they are a part of his community is creating dialogue. In the opening, King states that he does not usually address every person with a criticism, but is responding to their concerns because they are “men of genuine goodwill” (1). This is his first connection to a community that he makes with his audience. By separating these few men from the

general masses, King groups them in an exclusive group that aids in a subconscious superiority. In making the conversation appear to be a dialogue, MLK is able to reduce any original hostility and make the others feel as though they are a part of a community that participates in collective decision making.
His next attempt at creating a sense of community throughout his letter is his constant use of the idea of brotherhood.

In discussing his “disappointment with the white moderate,” he refers to his audience as his “Christian and Jewish brothers” (9). Not only does this soften the blow of his condemnation, it adds a layer of familiarity to the conversation. The use of the term brother in a relationship that is not one of the same parents is a nod to how strong a friendship is. In calling his opposition “brother,” Dr. King promotes a trusting and familiar relationship with his reader. He ultimately signs off the paper with “yours for the cause of peace and brotherhood” as a way to appeal to the sympathies of his reader (20). No matter how much the reader disagreed, the ending of the letter still pulls them back to the common ground that they hope to reach which is

peace.
In order to further his appeal to a sense of community, Dr. King alludes to the one thing that he knows he has in common with all of the clergymen addressed: religion. When directly speaking of his connection to the city of Birmingham, King alludes to the Apostle Paul and how he “carried the gospel” for Jesus Christ (2). He goes on to compare himself to Paul in order to give a reason for him being in a city that is not his own. Not only does the Bible give comparisons for his claims, but it makes him appear more credible to the others that are religious. By reintroducing his religious background to a group of religious leaders, King dons the identity of the “Good Christian” that would make him more trustworthy to his audience.
Though his “I Have a Dream” speech is one of the most famous speeches of all time, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s competency to convey a message extends to his writing in ways that can persuade even his greatest opposition as long as he knows his audience. In his letter from the Birmingham jail, Dr. King points to the interrelatedness of oppression by relating himself to the clergymen that he is in contact with by fostering a sense of community and alluding to a common knowledge. Be it from a podium in Washington D.C or Edmund Pettis Bridge in Selma, King’s leadership was revered because of his ability to move the people. He did just that in this letter and let’s not forget; it was all done from a jail cell in Birmingham, Alabama.