ipl-logo

Does Martin Luther King Jr Mean In Letter From Birmingham Jail

1482 Words6 Pages

The words, laziness and discipline are descriptive words that normally do not appear in the same context. Laziness is driven from the desire of comfort while discipline is conquering the discomfort and embracing the grind. We live in a world where we may not consider ourselves lazy, but we are. A verse from the Bible, Proverbs 26:14 says, “As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.” This verse is a riddle and it is saying as a door moves on its hinges the door in not going anywhere. Similarly, the individual lying in bed, turning over and you can almost imagine the individual pressing the snooze button. In the era of the Civil Rights Movement Martin Luther King Jr. decided not to press the snooze button. He knew “if we are …show more content…

Dr. King held true to the ancient philosopher, Aristotle, in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” to defend the nonviolent resistance by using rhetorical appeals where he compels to his audience 's understanding of logic, emotions, and moral values. Logos refers to proof, or facts, provided by the words in Dr. King’s letter. Eight clergymen of Alabama wrote a letter to Martin Luther King Jr. on April 12, 1963 stating they understand the issue of racial segregation, but do not want the fight and tension to move into the public. The religious leaders criticize Dr. King’s actions as “unwise and untimely” and urged for honest and fair negotiations (Letter). Dr. King was arrested April 12, the same day the letter was written to him, thus he decided to spend his time in jail responding to the criticisms written by “men of genuine good will” (King 3). Dr. King begins developing his manifesto and within the first pages of his letter, he presents a logical argument. He responds to the words of the clergymen criticizing his nonviolent resistance to ending social injustice by describing the four simple tests that prove if social injustice is taking place. In Birmingham, Dr. King …show more content…

King was a sonorous voice for African Americans during the Civil Rights Movement. He refused to give in to the comfort of laziness and decided to conquer the discomfort of discipline. Dr. King listened to God who presented him with a miraculous gift of writing, public speaking, and standing for equality. He was able to relate to this gift by relating to God as he held true to this faith and belief. In a corrupt society where he was constantly being degraded and belittled, he embraced his calling to persuade others to fight for social injustice. He urged the church leaders to stand up for what they know is right, and fight for the good alongside Dr. King. Rather the clergymen decided to silence their voices hiding in the shadows of reality. In the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” Martin Luther King Jr. is able to plant seeds of justice in the minds who followed the unjust law. He meticulously developed his letter in which he was able to connect to a broad and diverse audience through rhetorical appeals logos, pathos, and

Show More
Related
136 Words | 1 Pages

In the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr., he writes to defend himselfagainst the clergymen’s accusations in which he explains his motive on his civil rightsdemonstrations and strives to justify the desperate needs for nonviolent action in the CivilRights Movement. His primary audience throughout the letter was to the religious leaders as hewas responding to an open letter for criticism, whereas the secondary audiences are whitemoderates and the religious population. Dr King’s letter addresses that the white attitudestowards African Americans and the Civil Rights Movements in the 1960s were hostile as theywere unable to accept the movement, especially in the South. Throughout the letter, he usesvarious literary and rhetorical

Read More
271 Words | 2 Pages

Martin Luther King Jr. effectively implements ethos,pathos, and logos in his “Letter to from a Birmingham Jail”. In terms of pathos, Martin Luther King Jr. feels disappointed and he wants to call people to action to help solve these injustices in a nonviolent way. He is outspoken about his nonviolence when he explains his four step process: “collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self purification; and direct action”. For ethos Martin Luther King Jr. is a credible source because he was a leader of the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He also addresses his own credibility in the letter “I have the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization operating

Read More
249 Words | 1 Pages

Letter From Birmingham Jail – A Rhetorical Analysis In April of 1963, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested in Birmingham, Alabama for protesting the mistreatment of blacks in the American South. During his time in jail, King produced a letter intended for his fellow clergymen, a response to the criticism he received for his work and ideas. One of King’s main arguments in this rhetorical work is that people have a moral responsibility to peacefully reject unjust laws. King’s position is that laws that are out of harmony with the moral law or the law of God are unjust and should be rejected.

Read More
771 Words | 4 Pages

Dr King also says “All too many others have been more cautious than courageous and have remained silent behind the anesthetizing security of stained-glass

Read More
563 Words | 3 Pages

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy” (King, Jr.). Martin Luther King Jr. exceeded this “measure of a man” during his civil rights acts as a strong soldier in a very volatile time. During this time of “challenge and controversy” King made himself heard in his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. In some of his civil rights acts that occurred in Birmingham, resulted in him ending up in jail. During his time in jail, he wrote his also famous “Letter From Birmingham Jail.”

Read More
958 Words | 4 Pages

In Martin Luther King’s letter from Birmingham jail, the clergymen are reminded of his character and vision. He defends himself and his legacy as it involves the nonviolent demonstrations against segregation. King uses ethos, logos,and pathos to address religious leaders in the the south’s concerns involving his non-violent actions in Birmingham. King establishes his character as a non-violent peace leader when he addresses the religious council in a persuasive manner.

Read More
895 Words | 4 Pages

In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. led a peaceful movement in Birmingham, Alabama. The purpose of the demonstration was to bring awareness and end to racial disparity in Birmingham. Later that night, King and his followers were detained by city authorities. While in custody, King wrote the famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” This letter voiced out his disappointment in the criticisms, and oppositions that the general public and clergy peers obtained.

Read More
740 Words | 3 Pages

While in solitary confinement for nearly 8 days, reverend and social justice activist, Martin Luther King Jr., wrote his famous Letter from Birmingham Jail in response to the criticism he received for his non-violent protests. Several clergy who negatively critiqued King’s approach of seeking justice, wrote A Call for Unity, arguing that his protests were senseless and improper. Within the article, the clergymen provide nine different critiques that asserted how King’s protest are invalid, uneffective, and simply unintelligent in the fight for obtaining justice and equity for individuals of color. His letter has become one of the most profound pieces of literature of the 20th century, as King uses vivid examples and eloquent rhetorical devices to counter all nine arguments.

Read More
628 Words | 3 Pages

He feels compelled to work for justice anywhere that injustice is being practiced. Martin Luther King believes the clergymen have erred in criticizing the protestors without equally exploring the racist causes of the injustice that is being protested. It is easy to fall into hyperbole when discussing Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” and one can see the virtues that encourage that hyperbole almost right away. Even ignoring its great influence throughout decades and the world, the letter is a masterpiece of didactic, legalistic, emotional, and most of all moral, argument. It's thrilling language and heightened content are only underlined by its meticulous structure, which reflects Martin Luther King’s high-quality education and focused

Read More
649 Words | 3 Pages

In this quote, Martin Luther stated that his critics disagreed with his decision to hold demonstrations in Birmingham but managed to weaken these claims by exposing the hypocrisy within them. He does this numerous times within the letter, using a persuasive structure to dismantle the opposition’s arguments. Throughout the “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King also used metaphors and comparisons to bring attention to

Read More
1522 Words | 7 Pages

King believed that if he could just go to Birmingham, and protest non-violently, that he could make a difference. On April 16, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. was imprisoned, in Birmingham, for protesting the civil rights of Black Americans. While in jail, he began writing a letter addressing the clergymen. His main audience in writing this letter was to the eight clergymen who criticized his actions and also the majority of the population as well. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail”, argues that injustice

Read More
866 Words | 4 Pages

Civil rights leader and social activist Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a world renown correspondence, Letter From Birmingham Jail, in April of 1963, during a time when segregation was at it’s peak in the South. When King was making his mark in American history, the United States was experiencing great social unrest due to the injustice towards their colored citizens, which would lead to social rights rallies and unnecessary violence. In response to King’s peaceful protesting, the white community viewed “[his] nonviolent efforts as those of an extremist,” and subsequently imprisoned the pastor (para 27). King specifically wrote to the white clergymen who had earlier addressed a letter to him as to why he was apprehended, in which they argued that his actions were untimely and unconstitutional. In response, King emphasized that justice is never timely, and the refusal to acknowledge equal rights was inhumane and regressive.

Read More
907 Words | 4 Pages

Because of his skill in creating such pieces of writing, as well as his influential role within the Civil Rights Movement, and the reminder that Letter from Birmingham Jail provides of these trying times, his letter should continue to be included within A World of Ideas. Persuasion within writing is an important tool to be utilized in order to garner support for one’s position. During the 1960s, equality between different races was a very controversial issue which required a certain finesse when being discussed. Martin Luther King demonstrated precisely this sort of finesse when writing about the racial injustices faced by black Americans, as well as when refuting the criticisms he faced from white clergymen.

Read More
946 Words | 4 Pages

Martin Luther King Jr., a minister and social activist, led the Civil Rights Movement in the United States from the mid-1950s until his death by assassination in 1968. He was an advocate for equality between all races and a civil and economic rights Activist. Because of his leadership, bravery and sacrifice to make the world a better place, Martin Luther King was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize. His incredible public speaking skills and ability to properly get his message across can clearly be scene throughout the speech. Tone: Dr. King delivered his speech at the university of Oslo in Oslo Norway in front of a large group of people.

Read More
427 Words | 2 Pages

Martin Luther King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail addresses his fellow clergymen and others who critiqued him for his actions during this time. The clergymen along with others are addressed in an assertive tone allowing them to fully understand why his actions are justified. Throughout the letter critics are disproved through King’s effective use of diction and selection of detail. Martin Luther King opens the letter stating that the clergymen are being “influenced by the argument of ‘outsiders coming in” consequently he explains the reason for him being in Birmingham. In the opening of his explanation he states the injustices occurring, relating it to the prophets of eighth century B.C.

Read More

More about Does Martin Luther King Jr Mean In Letter From Birmingham Jail

Open Document