I think the most important moment that demonstrates taking charge is when Mandela challenges the unanimous vote to eliminate the Springboks. His secretary advises him not to as it will risk his future as the leader of South Africa. Mandela responds by saying: “The day I am afraid to do that is the day I am no longer fit to lead.” This shows how devoted Mandela is to his vision and that he understands the implications if the Springboks were to be eliminated. To be a good leader, one has to be an advocate for change; however, they have to be able to distinguish between good change and bad change. Mandela realized that eliminating the Sprinboks would have driven the racial tension higher forcing him to take charge and keep that from happening.
At the beginning of this passage, King appeals to ethos by addressing their counterargument stipulating that their direct nonviolent protests were “‘unwise and untimely’” (166) using a neutral tone. King not only civilly approaches the counterargument when he states,” One of the basic points in your statement is that the action that I and my associates have taken in Birmingham is untimely…The only answer that I can give to this query is that the new Birmingham administration must be prodded about as much as the outgoing one, before it will act” (166). King utilizes a neutral tone, without any usages of loaded words or strong emotions, to present himself as a level-headed, reasonable character and an educated equal to his audience. King reasonably responds to his opponent’s main point with a rational explanation indicating that their resolve to protest is merely an action to stimulate an administration inclined to maintain the status quo unless a call for change is demanded by the populace. In the effort to persuade his
Stating this country cannot survive being divided as further evidence on his fight for equality by mentioning Abraham Lincoln. King cites the Constitution by quoting Thomas Jefferson: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal ..." (573). His purpose is to reinforce his argument with quotations from respected people in the political, religious, and philosophic fields. He illustrates the evidence to justify why each of his equals should compel with the authority of the Supreme Court. An important element of this letter is that he achieves his appeal for nonviolent protest and unity.
He also refers to the Caucasians as “you” to create a feeling of being an outsider and “you” can only imagine what it feels like to be an African American. Baldwin. Thoreau also uses the theme of us versus them when he compares the people to the government. Thoreau basically coveys that it is the people against the government. It is evident when Thoreau says we must be “men first and subjects afterwards”, implying that one must be a person who is governed by ones self rather than primarily being a subject to the government.
Martin Luther King, one of the most well known civil rights leaders in America, believed that some laws during his lifetime were unjust in nature and were acceptable to ignore based on ones conscience. Henry David Thoreau also believed that unjust laws were to be resisted or ignored. While Thoreau was the first American to define and use civil disobedience as a means of protest, King expanded upon it in his letter from Birmingham jail, implementing nonviolence and practical application into the traditional American protest. Henry David Thoreau believed that, “That government is best, which governs least.” Also, while Thoreau had wished for no government, he acknowledged the fact that it was logically impossible and that the government only exists because the people allow it to exist; Thoreau states, “The government does not keep the country free. It does not settle the west.
By allying himself with the Nonviolent Direct Activist community, he is able to refute the public statement’s claim that he and his followers should negotiate for change rather than demonstrate; likewise, being a part of the Cretive Extremist community allows him to counter their claim that there is no justification for breaking the law with his allusions to Jesus, Amos, Paul, Mrtin Luther, John Bunyan, Abraham Lincoln, and Thomas Jefferson (para. 31). 1. What is King’s tone in the opening paragraph? How might you make an argument for its being ironic?
Also, as a Civil Rights leader he must convince the enemy to stop hating blacks. A brave step in the opposite direction, Campbell visits “Klan County.” He writes,” I made the trip to what was being referred to by Peter Young as Klan County” (Campbell 246). Will was crazy to go visit Klansmen who he was fighting against. The change, however, did no harm. Campbell says, “I didn’t lie to them and they didn’t lie to me.
He also appeals to the fight in his audience with the use of pathos. He appeals to their anger towards the white man to convey his message that they must fight together to destroy their oppressor. This is a direct attack on Martin Luther King Jr. King wanted what Malcolm X calls a “negro revolution” that is peaceful and without bloodshed. Malcolm X says that this is impossible, if change is to be accomplished then there must be violence there must be
When he refers to the Constituition and Declaration of Independence and says "This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness. ", his crediablty shows. This is when King's arguement of equality is evident.(King). He goes on to defend his arguement when he states "It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. ", claiming that equality is not being met.
A People Pleaser President Abraham Lincoln What were the thoughts behind the political acts of Lincoln and how did he come to the conclusions that lead him to issue the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863? When we take a closer look at the decisions that shaped his resolve to liberate the slaves, it is clear that his resolution is actually freedom with limitations. These very limitations will ultimately place people he proclaims to be helping in grave and immediate danger. In this essay, I will illustrated how President Lincoln intentions were never to actually emancipate slaves, yet, appease as many white followers as possible and still maintaining his position in a political battlefield. Although, President Lincoln has been praised