Rhetorical Analysis Of Letter From Birmingham Jail

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Letter From Birmingham Jail addresses criticism made by eight clergymen to Martin Luther King Jr. in one of the most renowned persuasive piece of writing in history. King wants to convince his attackers that there is injustice in America and condemning his actions leaves the root of the problem of civil injustice ignored.
King opens with his credentials. He first personally addresses the Clergymen saying, “My Dear Fellow Clergymen,” hitting the fact he shares the religious values as the Clergymen because he is a Man-of-God. Not only that but he is the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a large organization who values non-violent demonstration. King’s ethos is strengthened by the fact he represents Christians, African …show more content…

All his words strung with the most polite and respectful language possible.
After the opening call to attention, King explains why he is in Birmingham in the first place: “because injustice is here.” He compares himself to Apostle Paul in a biblical allusion that is especially powerful to his specific audience. He claims he is compelled by a duty to help the highly segregated community of Birmingham, saying “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” While explaining his reasons for action the white moderate are criticised for allowing the unfair restriction of freedom to go on in America. As he expresses disapproval of the clergymen his very polite tone begins to fade. The ties to Birmingham turn into ties to the civil rights movement as the logic behind those who consider themselves “activists” are described. He states that “freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed,” and King is right. After hundreds of years of oppression and waiting black citizens know they must reach for change. The logos-ethos mix lead into a tidal wave of the emotional hardships of the African

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