The Letter from Birmingham Jail was written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in April of 1963. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of several civil rights activists who were arrested in Birmingham Alabama, after protesting against racial injustices in Alabama. Dr. King wrote this letter in response to a statement titled A Call for Unity, which was published on Good Friday by eight of his fellow clergymen from Alabama. Dr. King uses his letter to eloquently refute the article. In the letter dr. king uses many vivid logos, ethos, and pathos to get his point across. Dr. King writes things in his letter that if any other person even dared to write the people would consider them crazy. Dr. King begins his letter by acknowledging the clergymen who …show more content…
There is no question that racial injustice was most definitely taking place in Alabama, and throughout America. Dr. King uses many other examples like this one. Dr. King explains that they had no other alternatives than to demonstrate and protest against the serious injustices taking place in the United States, especially in the south. In the letter Dr. King states that the white people of Birmingham have left the African Americans with no other alternative. He also states that the city of Birmingham is one of the most segregated cities in the entire United States. Dr. King explains that the African American community in Birmingham had faced unjust treatment with the justice system, and he spoke of unsolved bombings of their homes and churches. “We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God-given …show more content…
King uses all of these other tools in writing his letter. The most important tool he uses though is an emotional appeal or pathos. Although Dr. King is writing to the clergymen who wrote A Call for Unity, what he writes goes out more than just to the clergymen it is a letter that people read and the words he writes moves the people even some fifty years later. He states in his letter the African Americans, were the victims of a broken promise. Dr. King also says, “Now is the time to lift our national policy from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of human dignity” (King). Reading this makes anyone want to help in some way. Dr. King went even further to say that freedom is not something that is given to the people it is something that must be taken. Dr. King uses words like injustice, oppressed, justice, and disappointment to appeal to the reader’s moral
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.
Dr. King uses his credibility to convince eight Alabama clergymen that his direct action protests are (right, constitutional, essential, should be accepted or supported or……...?). At the beginning of his letter, Dr. King indicates that there are 85 organizations across southern states that associated with his organization. This shows reader that his organization is backed-up by other organizations and (protesters are not bad [in different words]………?). Then he says that he cannot ignore what is happening in Birmingham while he is sitting in Atlanta, Georgia (). He mentions this to let his audience know that there are some problems in Birmingham and he is trying to solve them. He says, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” () He gives his reader an idea that there is injustice in Birmingham. It also indicate that King is unhappy and protesting because injustice exists in Birmingham. Dr. King says that he and people who are involved in direct-action protests are not the ones who create tension, but they a...
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American Baptist minister and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He wrote the article “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, which was published May 12, 1963 in the New York Post Sunday Magazine. King uses metaphors in the letter to question the audience from a passionate and unpassionate view. Also puts figurative language and a demanding tone to make the audience join his anti-racist movement.
I believe the letter also sought to solidify his position on the injustice created by segregation and illustrate the lack of action not only of the white moderate, but also the complacent black citizens. In addition, it was important to make light of the single-minded comments of the white religious leaders when referring to their worry about the demonstrations; without focusing on why the demonstrations came about. They were looking at the effects and not the causes. Also, Martin Luther King says that “…freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” Important distinctions to make for those that are not compelled by the injustice of segregation; mainly the complacent black citizens and the white moderate. Ultimately, the letter is a call to action; a call to the people of the American South to change their beliefs and change their society. Also, an example of how difficult it is to achieve change when resistance is demonstrated by individuals and society at large.
He was referring to the white American political community, white American religious community and the African American community. In his letter, Dr. King effectively uses different methods such as logical appeals, ethical appeals, and emotional values.
wrote “Letter from Birmingham Jail” as a response to a statement by eight fellow clergymen. Martin Luther King Jr.’s tone in the letter starts very restrained and is very calm and gentle. Martin Luther King Jr. uses religion in a very different way compared to both Kennedy and Lincoln. In King 's speech "God"is used to deny the arguments given by the clergymen. Clergymen are arguing that African Americans’ protest should be ordered in a very peaceful and calm way to lead it to negotiation. They are mainly criticizing King and supporting the bigoted police force. King tells there is a sacred reason that he is in birmingham by mentioning there is injustice. He comes up with a very bold quote “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”. The quote serves an important role. It justifies why King has come to Birmingham, which is also supported by “Just as the prophets of the eighth century B.C. left their villages and carried their “thus saith the Lord”” (pg 503). It has reference of the “God” and prophets to add more meaning on King’s visit to Birmingham. He also uses “God” to justify the direct actions of African Americans. “Negroes have grossly unjust treatments in the courts” (pg 503) is a one example of showing the social oppression and unequal injustice that African Americans are going through. There are other examples such as humiliating racial signs, bombing in house, and other inhuman acts. He says these acts are against the Christian morality, so the black community is trying to actively improve their situation and surrounding environment. King has been continuously mentioned that the blacks will obey the legal conditions only if it was moral. He uses Hitler and Hungarian Freedom Fighters as example, that “We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was “legal” and everything that Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was “illegal” (pg 507). He mentions St.Augustine’s quote “an unjust law is no law
In addressing and confronting the problem of injustices among the black Americans in the American society, particularly the violence that had happened in Birmingham, and generally, the inequality and racial prejudice happening in his American society, King argues his position by using both moral, social, and political references and logic for his arguments to be considered valid and agreeable.
When MLK was taken in to custody, he was charged with “parading without a permit”(King), which really means he was doing wrong because it was a parade against segregation. He was holding a peaceful protest on behalf of the people who did not have a voice for themselves, and he was going to stop at nothing to be heard. MLK, while in jail, was receiving criticizing letters from all over about his protest, he never responded to them until he came across one. Eight Alabama clergymen entitled, “A Call For Unity”, which explained that he should be fighting in courts only and not on the street, wrote the letter. When King writes back that taking direct action is the only way to achieve the true civil rights even if it goes against what is morally right.
This letter was primarily written towards the clergymen, but is viewed by the the entire nation. King was sent to jail for parading around town without a permit. The eight days spent in jail allowed him to develop this letter to refute the clergymen. In his letter, King’s heart and soul was poured into this letter which can be seen through the length and the way he articulated himself towards the issue of segregation and racial injustice.
In Dr. King's essay 'Letter from Birmingham Jail' he addresses the claims made about his arrest by the eight clergymen. His responses are very long and detailed, giving a very compelling and moving point of view. His letter is directed to his audience, which consists of white middle class citizens who Dr. King refers to as the 'white moderates'. Dr. King's letter is very persuasive because his use of pathos makes the audience think or imagine themselves in the situation. It is very poignant of him to write his letter this way. He is in touch with the views of his audience, which makes a greater impact on his readers. Dr. King uses antecdotes to make his readers see the injustice that would continue if there were no changes. It helps his audience to feel that they are a very powerful part of this issue and that they can make a difference.
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.
Dr. King effectively expresses why his critics are wrong in a passionate tone. He is extremely zealous about the rights that African-Americans have been neglected to have and should have, as well as everyone else. Mr. King was criticized for his “untimely” actions in Birmingham. “This wait has almost always meant ‘never.’” (King 264) Martin Luther King isn’t just a bystander witnessing the injustice; he is a victim and one of the few who is willing to fight for justice well deserved. His tone also evokes similar passion in the audience. The reader will feel that strong passion and by doing so they will realize that Dr. King does know what he is doing. Since Dr. King is directly affected and is relatable, his writing is able to effortlessly capture his determination and courage. All while having a passionate tone he is able to remain a respectable and calm tone throughout his letter. Dr. King’s tone shifts from brusque to a conciliatory manner. His non-aggressive tone benefits Dr. King’s argument and makes it more effective. If Dr. King had written in an hostile tone, the clergymen would feel attacked and would not want to support his cause....
The tone set by Dr. King in the part of the letter where he describes “pent-up resentments and latent frustrations,” and where he recognizes the “vital urge” being suppressed, is very passionate. His passion shines through loud and clear. The way Dr. King feels is, in fact, quite clear throughout the entire letter, yet the overriding sense of reason and logic that anyone can relate to is ever apparent. As he describes the unrest he finds in his community, the community as a whole really; he explains that he did not encourage them to “get rid of your [their] discontent” he instead encouraged them to, “make prayer pilgrimages to city hall;… go on freedom rides,… and try to understand why he [they] must do so”; these quotes from the letter point out the ways Dr....
Martin Luther King Jr begins his essay with “My Dear Fellow Clergyman” in an attempt to form a sense of parity between himself and the men being addressed. More ever, he says that he believes that these criticisms are “sincerely set forth” and the men are “of genuine good”. Through this, he applies a Rogerian tactic, where the writer attempts to find a common ground as an alternative to further dividing the sides. His demonstration of equality due to the inter-connectedness of all people is a central idea of the entire letter. He notes that his “secretaries” can’t answer the amount of tedious “criticisms that cross [his] desk” since “constructive work” requires superior attention. In the informational second paragraph, King, “the president
Sending a letter to Martin Luther King Jr. was potentially the largest mistake the Eight White Clergymen could have made if they wanted to sustain segregation. They probably did not expect such an eloquent response from an African-American. The letter to King asks him to give up his demonstrations because it only hurts his cause by instigating further hatred and violence. The letter continues on and asks for “...our own Negro community to withdraw support from these demonstrations...” and to instead keep the fight for their rights to the court system and out of the streets. When King replies to this “Call for Unity” he strips the entire letter down and turns it against the authors, making his response over six times longer than the letter. The letter King wrote from Birmingham Jail was a vital turning point in the desegregation movement. If King wasn't arrested then perhaps the letter from the clergymen would have never been authored; however that would also prevent his reply written 24 days prior to the May 10th Birmingham agreement which ended segregation within the city.