The Birmingham Letter: A Rogeriaian Argument

The Birmingham Letter written by Martin Luther King jr. was a very well written rogerian argument. I believe it is a rogerian argument because he introduced and showed a problem that affected his followers. Martin also presented his beliefs, ideas, and arguments to the reader and the listeners. In addition, Martin wrote with a gracious heart in which he kept a clear tone to begin stating his argument without being insulting. Finally, he displayed the common ground between him and his opposing side. Martin writes the solutions to his problem and way of reaching a settlement with the opposing side.
The problem stated in the Birmingham Letter is that african americans are segregated and they are also being judged for protesting. King Jr adds

that they both have common beliefs in religion and many characters were extremists such as Jesus “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you”. Not only does he use religion but people they both admire such as Abraham Lincoln “This nation cannot survive half slave and half free”. He also shows that he has completed all his steps to his nonviolent campaign and that he is now sitting in jail. He does not insult but says that he and his followers have tried kindly to obtain their rights. In the letter Martin says “…I have tried to make it clear that is wrong to use immoral means to attain moral ends”. Martin Luther King jr. also adds that if his fellow african americans were to be freed they would be people who symbolize courage, dignity, and be remembered as real heroes. He ends with asking forgiveness if he had made an unreasonable statement.