Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Persuasive Writing Strategies Shackled down and thrown in a jail cell, being threatened and abused for something beyond your power, imprisoned for non-violent actions, when none of these things are, or even sound remotely humane but illustrate a day in the shoes of an inspirational man, Dr. Martin Luther king Jr. .The civil rights movement went on from 1955-1968. Martin Luther King was non-violently protesting with 53 other African Americans in1963 on Good Friday and were all jailed. This enticed Clergymen to write a letter, which appeared in the Birmingham newspaper against these acts of protest. Martin Luther King Jr. won people over with his inspirational words and ability to persuade even those extremely against
Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” attempts to justify the need for nonviolent direct action, and how both King and the Clergymen should work together to find a solution. King wanted to find common ground with the clergymen. King tried to convince the clergymen to see his point of view, and realized and attempt the problem as a problem, not just a disturbance. He found common ground through beliefs in which they all believed and feelings that they all felt. King used a very strong quote that stated, “ An unjust law is no law at all.” This quote was from a great Christian philosopher and king knew the clergymen couldn’t ignore the words of such a wise man.
King does not take insult to the clergymen’s criticism but he gently counter argues every point they bring up. Letter from Birmingham was a great response to Dr. King’s critics about his actions in Birmingham. He does a great job appealing to their emotions, religious beliefs, and uses logic to answer all their questions. He was an advocacy for equality and fought to his last breath to make sure that the blacks would get the same treatment as
On April 16, 1963, from the jail of Birmingham, Martin Luther King, wrote a letter from Birmingham jail to eight clergymen who had attacked his work for civil rights in a public statement released on April 12, 1963. This particular text was initiated due to the non-violent demonstrations in Birmingham, Alabama, which led to the arrest of many African-Americans, including King himself. Even though this was not a speech document, the letter was directed to several targeted audiences: first, the clergymen who wrote “A Call for Unity,” secondly, the “white moderate”, and finally, to black men and women across the nation who lacked the initial courage to fight for their rights. King wanted to convince them of the utility of his commitment in this
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. 2. King starts his paragraphs by introducing his background as an important member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. His appeal to ethos gives his critics legitimate reasons why he should be directly involved in the
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.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. may have been one of the most influential leaders of his time and maybe even of all time, but it was the way in which he delivered his speeches and who he directed them towards that made him appeal to his listeners. The influence behind King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and his “I Have a Dream Speech” relied directly on his use of the power of rhetoric and the awareness of his audience. The shift of tones throughout these two works of King is what brings about the way in which the audience is directed and who it is directed towards. “Letter from Birmingham Jail” Dr. King is directly in a non-broadened way addressing clergymen who were putting him to task for the non-violent protests in what they considered to
He uses a substantiate example of Martin Luther as a person who stands up and shows what he/she really believes in. “Was not Martin Luther an extremist: Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise so God help me.” (Paragraph #27). Martin Luther shows his true self by not keeping quiet; he nailed 95 theses to his own church’s door to show exactly how he felt. Like Martin Luther, the Christians before him also made a comeback by trying to show their true selves. “It was practiced by the early Christians, who were willing to face hungry lions and the excruciating path of chopping blocks rather than submit to certain injust laws of the Roman Empire.” (Paragraph #21).
Fighting for Freedom In a “Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr., King explains why he was in Birmingham. In 1963 King guided fifty-three African-Americans through Birmingham to protest for Civil Rights. King wrote this letter to answer a letter he had received from eight clergymen saying that, “such demonstrations were unwise, untimely, and extreme”. King replies to their letter from a Birmingham jail explaining why he was there and why all the actions that have taken place were necessary. In this letter Martin Luther King Jr. shows that he is there for his fellow people and justice.
April 12, 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested for leading a prohibited protest. During his imprisonment he decided to write a letter from Birmingham jail to respond to a public statement of concern. In his letter he discreetly describes why he concluded into direct action and the purpose of his action. Martin Luther King decided to go to Birmingham in a call for help. In addition king went to Birmingham because the injustices were incredulous and segregated.