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Martin Luther King, Jr Letter from Birmingham Jail analysis
Martin Luther King, Jr Letter from Birmingham Jail analysis
Mlk letter from birmingham jail essay
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Dr. King’s well-known “Letter from Birmingham Jail," was published in The Atlantic as "The Negro Is Your Brother," and was written on 12 of April, 1963 it was in response to a public statement of concern and caution issued by eight white religious leaders of the South. Dr. King and 58 men had marched down into downtown Birmingham to protest against racism and racial segregation laws of the Jim Crow era. As a result, they were all arrested and put into prison by the police. In his letter, Dr. King tells the clergymen that he is upset about their criticisms, and that he has a good reason for his actions. Dr. King emphasizes that there is a need for justice for the black race because they have been oppressed for a long time, and …show more content…
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. Dr. King uses logos in the forms of reasoning, evidence, and definition in his letter to push his claims to the clergymen. Logos is a Greek word that refers to the use of logic and reasoning as an appeal. In his letter, Dr. King uses reasons to explain to the clergymen that the way the black people are being treated is very disheartening. Throughout his letter, he uses reasoning to point out that racism and segregation is unjust because have torn the country apart. Dr. King then states that the Declaration of Independence the true meaning was that everyman must be treated equally, but in the southern part of the country the blacks were treating the blacks poorly. He uses historical examples to bring his ideas to light. For example, In Letter from Birmingham …show more content…
King then uses the appeal known as pathos. Pathos is a Greek word meaning 'suffering ' or 'experience, ' and it appeals to the reader 's emotions, utilizing story, sensory-based details and vivid language. Throughout Dr King’s letter then showed how the African American they were suffering in the hands of the Whites. An a good example is “...when you suddenly find your tongue-twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six-year old daughter why she can’t go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children.”(844) Dr. King then used a child because he knew that child is a child no matter the color or race they are innocent of their crimes and nobody wants to see a child cry. Dr. King then went on to talk about the how the African American are been tormented each day and night. “…you spend night after night in your car because no motel will accept you. Day and night you are humiliated by nagging signs; when your first name is “nigger” and middle name is “boy”….(845). He described cruel behaviors of police towards blacks in jails. He said that, “Hate-filled policemen curse, kick and even kill your black brother and sisters and vast majority of twenty million Negro brothers smothering in an airtight cage of poverty” (844). He went further to explain that there is the need for change to happen. This is a clear
In 1963 on April 16th, Martin Luther King Jr, who was in the Birmingham jail for non-violent protesting wrote a letter in response to a statement from eight white Clergymen, in which they stated that his recent activities were “unwise and untimely.” In this letter King proceeds to state his purpose and reasons for his timing and his protests and powerfully he does so. He most obviously directs the letter to the Clergymen but there seems to be a many different audiences he wishes to enlighten on his thoughts. From what I gather he wants public figures and everyday men to read his letter, and by doing so he hopes to raise awareness for the cruel acts that have been done to the blacks. 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.
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.
Martin Luther King, Jr. is known to be a civil rights activist, humanitarian, a father, and a clergyman. He is well known for fighting for the equal rights of colored people and ending discrimination. King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail is an important part of history that showed King’s opinion of a letter that he happened to read in the newspaper written by a group of clergyman. In this letter, the group of clergyman report that colored people, also known as black people, are being violent towards Birmingham City. Also, the clergymen believed the time that will allow segregation to be diminished was not happening anytime soon because it is not convenient. King refuted the clergymen’s argument in a variety of ways using tactics of argumentation and persuasion like appeal to emotion through real life examples, appeal to logic, and even articulating certain phrases through metaphors and word choice. Many of these different tactics of argumentation and persuasion made his letter very effective and is now seen as a great piece that is looked upon highly today.
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....
Specifically, King's letter addresses three important groups in the American society: the white American political community, white American religious community, and the black American society. King addressed these communities as the primary groups wherein racial segregation is continuously proliferated (the white American political and religious community) and points much of his arguments to and for his fellow black Americans in the society.
uses rhetorical devices to defend his opinions on the purpose of the government and the non segregational rights, moral responsibilities, and violent nature of the citizens. King’s ideas are still relevant today. History repeats itself; the conscience is led astray by the unfair opinions of a few people. Even so, King simplifies racism into a timeless argument that is easily applied and understood. The whole purpose of his letter is to encourage individual reflection over what is right. His depth of knowledge and precise persuasion organizes his defense so the answer is clear: it is time for Americans everywhere to rise up and join the crusade for
For example, whites had sympathy for African Americans and parents had sympathy for their children. The way that King tells his speech takes the focus off of race and reestablishes it on the aspiration of a world without racism. “.by making his audience no longer hate Negroes and instead hate racism and wish for a new, better world.” (L., Anson). Dr. King made the audience sympathize with African Americans, helping the audience realize that racist people and biased ideas caused the true dilemma of discrimination.
In the letter to Birmingham jail, MLK uses pathos and the use of allusion to persuade readers on the value of civil disobedience. Dr. king often used the literary device of allusion, for example, when he mentioned the Holocaust, “We can never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was legal, and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was illegal” (King 2). What this quote means is that even though Hitler’s actions were justified, they were not kind or correct. On the other hand, the freedom fighters actions were outlawed even though they were good. King most likely alluded to this particular scenario because it was an obvious display of social vs. judicial righteousness. An example of when king used pathos in his letter
King next admits his growing and continued frustration and disappointment with white moderates (and this would appear to include the clergy who wrote the letter). He now feels he needs to address them as what they profess to be “Brothers in Christ”. He points out the glaring disconnect (moderation) in their lack of acknowledgment that the “Negro is your brother”. All arguments and calls for acceptance from the clergy have centered on the made law and addressed in the manner of compliance to desegregation because it is now the law, but Dr. King states he had yet to hear anyone say, follow the law because it is the right and moral thing to do and because the Negro is your brother. This puts the argument squarely where it should be, on biblical terms. Dr. King closes with no malice, but an acknowledgement of the shared faith when he says “I hope this letter finds you strong in the faith” and that he hopes to someday meet with them as a fellow clergyman and a Christian brother. The “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, was a classic case of broken promises which lead Dr. King to apply pressure to a point of the other party so much so that they had no option but to sit down and come to a binding agreement. If this would have been violent instead of nonviolent, the outcome and the willingness to come together more than likely would not have
“Letter from Birmingham city jail” from Martin Luther King Jr. was written in 1963. On April 12, 1963, because of protesting without a permit, Dr. King was arrested in Birmingham. After four days, he wrote this letter in response to “A Call for Unity” written by eight members of the clergy from Birmingham. In this letter, Martin Luther King Jr. detailedly indicated his reasoning by using the appeals to ethics, logic, and emotion to help argue his point that he disagreed with the clergymen and that the methods the eight members of clergy supported were insufficient.
Dr. King through his letter addresses a maximal issue which is the injustice that Black community was enduring in Birmingham. He brilliantly used the three types of appeal, emotion, ethical, and logical to deliver his message and win the support of his audience. In a smart and well measured use of words he frequently uses the terms “us”, and “we”, as a successful tool to bring
Logos is when undeniable facts and very logical thinking is used to support the stance taken. Ethos is when the speaker uses their background and credibility to reassure their audience that they are a trustworthy source. King uses many bible quotes in all of speeches, but in this speech, the use of bible quotes are supporting his ethos appeals, as anyone who knew about Martin Luther King Jr., knew he was born into a preacher 's family and was one up until his death. Logos is used when King quotes government documents; the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Emancipation Proclamation. He literally is saying that in the backbones of America, everyone is granted equal rights, yet, blacks aren’t getting their equal rights. There is no way to argue with that and it is obvious King did his research to find this point and make sure it was throughly backed
King’s tone is passionate and disparaging in order to justify the methods of the civil rights movement and persuade the American people to end segregation. King utilizes imagery to justify his methods for achieving equality. In his letter, King is assured that one day:
Generally speaking, Dr. King reactions are long and nitty gritty, giving an exceptionally convincing and moving perspective. His letter is coordinated to his group of onlookers, which comprises of white working-class subjects who Dr. King alludes to as the 'white conservatives'. Dr. King’s letter is exceptionally powerful because his utilization of tenderness influences the gathering of people to think or envision themselves in the circumstance. It is exceptionally impactful of him to compose his letter thusly. He is in contact with the perspectives of his crowd, which has a more prominent effect on his peruses. Dr. King utilizes anecdotes to influence his peruses to see the foul play that would proceed if there were no progressions. It encourages
uses in the “letter” is logos to further communicate his argument to his audience. King states facts that no one wanted to bring up. He says “there have been more unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches in Birmingham than any other state”. This gives another reason he feels that he should be in Alabama rather than in Atlanta, so that he can address the violence against his people. This fact not only brings attention to it in a serious manner but in an emotional one. A bombing is not something to take lightly, a bombing is a tragic, horrible thing to happen to anyone and King hopes to get the reader to feel sadness and compassion for what is happening to other human beings. After that he still manages to explain how non-violent protests are the most ideal way to continue. By him being able to do that he showed every way, everyone of the clergy men were wrong. King then explains how the actions of the protestors were not “Untimely” but in fact pushed back multiple times in order to keep the attention on the real problem. “The election was a main contributor as to why the protest was postponed” stated King. Not only was it pushed back to after the election but it was pushed back to after the run- off so the people against it could not use the protest as a cover up story, the real problem would be the only thing they could talk about. Martin Luther King Jr. usage of logos show the actuality of what happened. It confirmed they had