Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” was written in Birmingham Jail in 1963 as a response to the Clergymen to explain his actions and also to answer their questions on why he did not call off the demonstrations. King was a civil rights activist who organized a campaign against segregation in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963. In his letter, King uses anaphora and allusions frequently. He also appeals to ethos, logos, and pathos to make his letter a paradigm of effective rhetoric. King uses allusions frequently throughout his letter.
MLK uses the repetition of “When” to list 12 powerful situations to the clergymen, supporting his cause of why he can no longer wait. Martin Luther King uses metaphors in paragraph 14 to express the wrongdoings of africans while they are waiting. When MLK gave an example of African Americans being killed while they wait, he uses a visual metaphor to give the reader a descriptive thought in their head. “Negro brothers smothering in an
Letter from Birmingham jell, was to put it in literary terms, thesis statement of his life. In this paper, he meticulously illustrate his reasoning, using all complaints of logic, emotion, and ethics. A logical appeal is an appeal that uses the reason facts and documentary evidence to make a point This Letter, designed as a response to the clergymen that opposed the way in which Dr King was protesting, Dr King’s letter actually addresses two audiences simultaneously; the limited and defined group of clergymen and a broader and less exactly defined group of intelligent and religious white moderates. Dr King's letter brings out the black history of violence, harsh treatment and prejudice that started long ago. Also mentioning that Birmingham is one of the worst cities to be so ugly and brutal to the colored people all through its history.
Upon these agreements, Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, the leader of the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights, (including Martin Luther King) had agreed to delay the peaceful demonstrations. Unfortunately, these promises were broken and the signs were put up again. Furthermore, King later states: “As in so many past experiences, our hopes had been basted, and the shadow of disappointment settled upon us, we had no alternative except to prepare for direct action, whereby we would present our very bodies as a means of laying our case before the conscience of the local and the national community.” In this quotation, he refers to the unjust and ugly treatment towards Negroes such as in the courts, and unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches to support his claim. The implied warrant here, is that most agree that one should not quickly resort to protests and such until they have exhausted all other steps beforehand such as negotiation. To back this, it’s said that these steps do not always work in every situation.
Subject: The subject of this letter is to state the reason he is in Birmingham for trying to change segregation as social justice and his use of civil disobedience as an instrument of freedom. Occasion: Dr. King is writing this letter from inside Birmingham Jail for being accused of misuse of the law by performing in acts of civil disobedience to show his disappointment at the leadership of the clergy and laws that he and others of the black community deem as unjust. Audience: Although this letter was initially mailed to the eight white clergymen who publicly asked the black community to restrict their Birmingham demonstrations, King meant for his message to reach a much larger audience such as U.S. citizens. King used this letter as
Purpose As you can see, literary essays are as easy as a burger! You have all your ingredients and such, but it is up to you to figure out how to expand and make that burger look and taste great! Remember, a burger isn't a burger if you don't have a top bun, meat, or a bottom bun, so make sure it all works
Fast food restaurants dont force the clients to buy and eat there. There are comments that people make and say that fast food restaurants should carry warning labels like the ones for tobacco and alcohol. I disagree, people should know what's right or wrong, good or bad, healthy or unhealthy. It is their responsibility, just like Mitch Jordan from Sacramento, California said, "Eat a lot, do nothing, and get fat. Eat a lot, exercise a lot, and stay healthy.
It is ultimately up to the consumer to make the decision of what to put into their bodies. Without a healthy alternative, little to no nutritional information, and the ease and convenience of fast food why would we choose anything else? The fact is that we have been conditioned as children to eat fast food. We also see the ease of a drive trough and think of it as a great convenience to the alternative of cooking for you at home. American’s are always on the go and fast food corporations have exploited that fact to the extreme.
Summary Response-Letter from the Birmingham Jail In this letter, Martin Luther King Jr. describes the current states of injustice and inequality that plague the Negro community during this time as he is writing from his jail cell. He writes to his fellow supporters and brothers and explains the reasons for being in Birmingham in the first place were because he felt it was necessary to protest injustice everywhere. Communities such as Birmingham were known to observe segregation laws that isolated black people from white people and in his opinion were classified as unjust laws. He claims to be a supporter of just laws and a non-violent protestor of unjust laws in which violate human morals and dignity. By citing references of protest such as Jesus Christ, St. Paul, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln, he justifies his current actions for the Negro community and states that he is willing to face the consequences when it comes to protesting for equal rights amongst all Americans.
“But more basically, I am in Birmingham because injustice is here.” He is using the rhetorical device diction in this quote to express the extent of his need and presence in Birmingham. Where ever injustice is in any city within the U.S. Dr. King goes to that city. The comparisons that Dr. King uses in his letter are used to provide an example of his actions to his critics in order to clarify them in Birmingham. “… and just as the Apostle Paul left his little village of tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to practically every hamlet and city of the Greco-Roman world, I too am compelled