Rhetorical Analysis Of Dr. King's The Birmingham Letter

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In the Birmingham Letter, written by Dr. King in a Birmingham jail, he addresses criticism from fellow priests and talks about the civil rights movement and how the community helps or doesn't help the cause. Dr. King explains that civil disobedience, manifested in civil rights protests, is legitimate and the only way to get what the black community deserves. He also talks about the injustice done to black protesters by the Birmingham police and the white community, and how black people can no longer tolerate the inhumane treatment of black people. In his letter, MLK appeals to Ethos to use his religion and church to support the fight against racial segregation and inequality. An example of this can be found in the text in paragraph 25, where it says: "Is it not like a condemnation of Socrates, because his unwavering commitment to truth and philosophical research led deceived people to do what they did by making him drink hemlock? Isn't that like condemning Jesus because his unique knowledge of God and unceasing devotion to …show more content…

King also uses a lot of imagery. language in his letter to help the priest understand how it feels to be black in the south, and that the black community is being treated, he also uses figurative language to convey that racial segregation and inequality are wrong and immoral. An example of this is in paragraph 40 where MLK uses a metaphor that is "So often the church today is a weak, ineffective voice with an uncertain voice. So often it is the main defender of the status quo." That's what he is saying politely. the right movement needs the Christian support of the churches because of the influence and injustice of the church. In the song, he emphasizes this further by comparing the strong voice of influence to the church and describes the early Christians as not being afraid of those around them who tried. humble them for God's sake and their courage and strength - they put an end to such ancient evils as infanticide and gladiatorial

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