Specifically, the arguments that King Jr. uses to defend his untimeliness, his willingness to break laws, and his extreme actions are appropriate for the audience and help him build credibility, which ideally will move his audience to action. In “Public Statement by Eight Alabama Clergymen,” the clergymen state that the action that King Jr. has taken is unwise and untimely and he explains in two different ways why
King then responded openly with a letter that he addressed to the clergymen, but it was also directed to the entire world. King’s strong use of rhetorical devices helped him present his three main ideas: the reason he was in Birmingham, why changes needed to occur, and what he planned to do to bring about the change. Much of King’s letter is written with appeal, a rhetorical device he uses to help the audi-ence see his point of view. King begins the letter by addressing his “fellow clergymen” and in-troduces himself as “president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.” By establish-ing his position, it allows him to speak to the white clergymen on a more personal level while remaining respectful and polite. By the end of the letter King hopes to meet them “not as an inte-grationist or a civil rights leader but as a fellow clergyman and a Christian brother.” King uses ethos, the demonstration of character, to establish the fact that he is at the same educational level as the clergymen and that the only thing separating them is race.
But to analyze the whole paper, in some cases I think Dr. King didn’t go far enough about his theses. In the letter he disapproved the statement of white clergymen with an almost appeasing tone. Dr. King noted that he was addressing them in part because the criticism of clergymen was sincere and added that they were men of real good will. However, in the paragraphs that follow, King changes to a language that can depart no doubt about the firm commitment that he introduced to the battle against racial injustice. For this transition Dr. King made a fuzzy statement to persuade them with the ideas of the justice and equality.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was imprisoned for breaking a court ruling while leading a nonviolent direct-action protest program against segregation. While imprisoned, King wrote an open response; “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. This letter was addressed to his fellow clergymen, but he wanted the entire world to read it. King elaborately explains; why he was in Birmingham, why he believed change must take place immediately, and what he planned to do to help bring about this change. In his prodigious letter, King creates a vigorous yet respectful response to a criticism made by eight Clergymen from Birmingham, Alabama.
This letter appeared in the Birmingham Newspaper. In response, Martin Luther King drafted a document that would mark the turning point of the Civil Rights movement and provide enduring inspiration to the struggle for racial equality. King's “Letter from Birmingham Jail” strives to justify the desperate need for nonviolent direct action, the absolute immorality of unjust laws together with what a just law is, as well as, the increasing probability of the “Negro” resorting to extreme disorder and bloodshed, in addition to his utter disappointment with the Church who, in his opinion, had not lived up to their responsibilities as people of God. King's justification to the eight clergymen for protesting segregation begins with a profound explanation of their actions, “Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue”. The actions of the African American people are overdue and very well planned as King had explained in the letter.
Letter from Birmingham Jail Essay In ³Letter from Birmingham Jail,´ Martin Luther King Jr. uses many rhetorical strategies to makehis purposed known to the clergymen that segregation laws should be abolished. Some of his strategiesare used the most in paragraphs thirteen and fourteen, when he argues for the urgency of changingsegregation laws. A few strategies that he uses are: diction, repetition, and Aristotelian appeals. ³Therecomes a time when the cup of endurance runs over, and men are no longer willing to be plunged into theabyss of despair.´King¶s diction, or word choice, is obvious and blunt in these two paragraphs, especially when hesays, ³when you have seen hate-filled policemen curse, kick, and even kill your black brothers andsisters.´ The fact that he brings up physical abuse being brought upon his people should be enough to persuade the clergymen that what he¶s doing isn¶t wrong. He¶s simply being a good American andstanding up for people¶s rights that have been taken away from them due to the color of their skin.
The approach thrives on presenting reasons on a certain subject and then arguing out. In order to comprehensively exhibit each of the three approaches, this paper refers to. " The letter from Birmingham Jail" is an emotional letter addressing the issues and critics of white clergymen thrown at Martin Luther king Jr, about his non-violent demonstration actions against injustice and racial discrimination among black Americans in Birmingham. Injustice is the backbone of all the social evils taking place in Birmingham and Alabama cities. Injustice is the violation of another person's right with the satisfaction of the other individual.
Jacob Martin Mrs. Nguyen English 101 March 5, 2013 Rhetorical Examination of “The Letter from Birmingham Jail” The employment of rhetorical strategies is imperative to effective persuasion. Martin Luther King, Jr. utilizes these methods throughout his dialogue. In April 1963, “The Letter from Birmingham Jail” was written while incarcerated for leading a nonviolent protest against Jim Crow laws. The purpose of the document was to be a reaction to a statement eight white clergymen issued disparaging King’s approach to protesting discrimination. The methods of logos, ethos, and pathos are used to convince his audience.
In Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” he constructs a persuasive argument in order to justify his actions and presence in Birmingham, moreover to gain support from fellow Alabama clergymen. His eloquent diction provides a sense of inclusion, while his suggestive application of connotation lures or entices the emotions and actions of the reader. King practices great diction to generate strong emotional effects. “We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God-given rights.” His repeated utilization of the word “we,” brings a sense of partnership and equality as he references his audience. The combination of the words “waited,” and the amount of time, “340 years,” stresses the urgency of change needed within our justice system.
Letter From a Birmingham Jail Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote an open letter to his fellow clergymen in April, 1963 after bring arrested for protesting segregation in Birmingham, Alabama. His letter was in response to statements the clergymen had made condemning and criticizing King for his “unwise and untimely”protests (King 1). In “A Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” King used the methods of ethos, pathos, and logos not only to justify the actions that led to his arrest, but also to admonish those who sympathized with his plight, yet did little to change the inequality that existed. King recognized that before he could persuade his audience to understand his point of view, he needed to gain their trust. His ethical appeal, or ethos, is evident when he writes: “I feel that you are men of genuine good will and that your criticisms are sincerely set forth” (1).