MLK Jr. Responds Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a clear, concise, and argumentative response to the charges made upon him by the Alabama clergymen by writing the Letter from a Birmingham Jail. In his Letter, King answered their criticisms of his work and ideas with patient and reasonable terms. King does not seem short-fused or vehement in this letter; he is calm and collected in his firm response to the clergymen. Also, in his letter his tone was strong, but neither violent nor threatening towards the clergymen.
1. What is King's tone in the opening paragraph? How might you make an argument for its being ironic? King's tone in the opening paragraph is respectful towards the clergymen. For example, not once does he use bad language or anything that bashes against the clergy.
King is patient and understanding to the criticism and views of his fellow clergymen. He seeks to find common ground with the clergymen; he politely and respectfully argues every point they bring up. He does not lose his temper but simply asks them to walk a mile in his shoes to understand why he needed to heard. He patiently lays out all reason why he was fighting to end a battle that had lasted more than three hundred and sixty years. King does not take insult to the clergymen’s criticism but he gently counter argues every point they bring up.
Analysis of “I Have a Dream” and “Letter to Birmingham Jail” In the “Letter to Birmingham Jail” Martin Luther King addresses the criticisms and objections that the white clergymen had made towards his and his affiliated organization’s efforts in trying to end segregation and achieve his and his people’s birth right: the right to be free through nonviolent means. Through the “I Have a Dream Speech” King speaks to his supporters and as well as to the entire nation to make them be fully aware of the injustices they are facing and through this make them stand up to those injustices. Both “Letter to Birmingham Jail” and “I Have a Dream Speech” have the same underlying meaning however. That way too long have the black community been treated wrongly. That way too long have the black nation been “judged by the color of their skin rather than the content of their character (King 815)” and therefore it is time for them to rise and stand up for their rights.
By taking the time to answer his critics (or persecutors, as he is in prison) with patience, logic and intelligence, as opposed to retaliating, King was also able to justify his actions. Another important aspect to his letter was to show how disappointed he was with the Church. For example he said “In deep disappointment I have wept over the laxity of the church. There can be no deep disappointment where there in not deep love”. One of the best parts of this letter was that it was created out of political conflict.
1. In the opening paragraph, King’s tone can be described as formal, ironic, and sarcastic because he is defending his actions against those he describes as ‘men of genuine goodwill’ and sincere. He further supports his ironic tone by mentioning his secretaries. Because this letter was written from a jail cell, King obviously did not have any secretaries. However, he mentions them in order to imply that he does get a lot of criticism and is taking particular care to address the specific concerns of the clergymen.
Martin Luther wrote a letter in response to the Eight White Clergymen. Using ethos, pathos and logos, King tried to persuade the church to adhere to the problems African Americans are facing. He let them know that what they wrote in their letter was not the completely accurate. Most importantly he told them even if the church does not come to aid, African Americans will still overcome their struggle and gain their freedom. “But even if the church does not come to the aid of justice, I have no despair about the future.” King kind of challenged the church; with or without them, African Americans will continue to strive.
The master of deceit tempted him, but yet he was an example of obedience by refusing to deviate from what He knew was right. An example of this obedience is when he was facing agony in Gethsemane, when he was enduring much pain, even then he was obedient to the lord by saying, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:42 I would like to close with a scripture that President Hinckley used in a talk in 1995. The scripture is Isaiah 1:19-20 and it
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
AP Language & Composition Sample Responses to Questions on MLK’s Letter from Birmingham Jail Read as a response to the letter by the clergymen, King’s essay can be approached as a shrewd argument that shows a thorough understanding of its immediate audience. Following his introduction, in paragraphs 2-3 King explains why he is not an ousider; in paragraphs 5-11, he explains how his organization has tried to negotiate and how it will again; in paragraphs 12-14, he refutes the accusation that his organization’s actions are untimely; and in paragraphs 15-22 he presents an argument justifying civil disobedience. In each case, King deftly crafts his response to show that he, in fact, agrees with the claim the clergymen make, but he redefines the terms for them. For example, he agrees that outsiders should not intrude in community issues; then he shows that he is an insider by virtue of his position in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, his concern for justice, and his belief that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Thus, King systematically, logically, and (one might argue) respectfully responds to each claim made against him. After these counterarguments, he mounts his own argument.