Questions for Discussion 1. Martin Luther King writes as a member of several communities, some overlapping, some in conflict. What are they? Focusing on two or three, explain how he defines himself within each. King writes as a Clergyman, an
King also states that he is “compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my (his) home town. Like Paul, I must constantly respond to the Macedonian call for aid” (p. 3). King’s reference to Paul (a notable biblical figure who sought to spread the gospel of Christ) allows for readers to see that there are reasonable and justifiable means behind Dr. King’s actions/argument. King then states that “We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality” (p. 4) giving a sense that he is in some way related (spiritually) to his readers, therefore we (as readers) should lend open ears and open minds to what King is arguing. Throughout his letter, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. attempts to draw an emotional connection with readers.
Questions for Discussion 1. Martin Luther King writes as a member of several communities, some overlapping, some in conflict. What are they? Focusing on two or three, explain how he defines himself within each. King writes as a Clergyman, an
Throughout his “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King Jr. argues for equal civil rights and the methods he and his followers use to achieve such a simple human right. He mainly utilizes logos to build his argument to the clergymen to whom he is responding. However, in paragraphs thirteen and fourteen, he takes on a completely different approach. Paragraph fourteen, which is comprised mostly of one long sentence, attacks the reader’s emotions through appeals to pathos. Paragraph thirteen opens the following emotional buildup.
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.
He furthers this credibility by noting that the Southern Christian Leadership Conference has some eighty-five affiliated organizations across the South. King’s connection with the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights directly confronts the clergymen of Alabama by including a local, well-respected organization of Alabama, as one of his supporters. The incorporation of this organization in his text intensifies his ethos by signifying that the clergymen’s families, neighbors, and fellow citizens of Birmingham, are supporters of his movement. King begins his letter by informing the clergy men why he is in Birmingham, the concept of nonviolent direct-action, and the sequence of events leading to his “direct action” approach. King recounts his presence in Alabama as an invitation.
In other words, elicit an emotion. “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” The words “painful,” and “oppressed,” are parallel to the sense of equality and partnership King is writing to achieve. The emotional value portrayed, in addition to the literal meanings of these words, brings a feeling of inclusivity. “Freedom is never voluntarily given… it must be demanded…” In this statement, Martin Luther King Jr. is calling his reader to action. His combination of conjuring phrases act like a volcanic eruption of response.
In his prodigious letter, King creates a vigorous yet respectful response to a criticism made by eight Clergymen from Birmingham, Alabama. He strongly defends his position by strongly advocating racial equality, alluding to countless sources and employing several literary tools. King effectively and eloquently uses of allusions, dominating tone, ethos, pathos, logos, imagery, alliteration, and metaphors creates a brilliant argument, which relate to his audience to convey his passion for equality. Martin Luther King Jr., uses of allusions not only to display his intelligence, but also to connect with his audience and religious leaders. King mentions, St. Thomas Aquinas; a Christian philosopher and theologian, “Any law that degrades human personality is unjust.
In the second chapter (2-5) he lays out the authority by which his group came to Birmingham. The great breadth of organizations that stand behind his actions overshadow the voices that reject his presence there. In the third paragraph, King makes one of many Biblical associations between the plight of blacks in America and the call of God upon his people to go and act on His behalf. This paragraph begins the preliminary thrust of the wrongness of injustice, and it is capped in the fourth paragraph with the
Malcolm X Speech Analysis Have you ever been persuaded by a speaker to do or believe in something that you wouldn’t have without listening to their speech? Throughout history speakers have used many different techniques to persuade their audience into believing and supporting their ideals. One speaker who has done this was African American rights activist Malcolm X. He convinces his audience of his ideals through the use of rhetorical devices, fallacies, and the effective use of ethos pathos and logos during his “The Ballot or the Bullet” speech. Malcolm X was a controversial speaker who often used the Constitution as a body of law and appeals to ‘the human condition and universal human rights’ to logically assess the status of African Americans progress in the nation.