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Does Martin Luther King Jr Mean In Letter From Birmingham Jail

1259 Words6 Pages

Colin Waite
English 10
Letter from Birmingham Jail Essay 2022
01/30/23

Throughout “Letter from Birmingham Jail '', Doctor Martin Luther King Junior argues multiple different points through the motif, time, to develop and further his purpose to get equality between the "African American Race" and "White Race ''. Doctor Martin Luther King Junior uses other motifs such as Direct Action, Oppression and Injustice along with the motif of time so that the reader can know how the average “African American” is feeling during this time period. Throughout this essay I will be going into further details about each of the motifs, talking about how each of them goes along with Doctor Martin Luther King Junior's purpose and the different points that go …show more content…

Doctor Martin Luther King Junior uses the motif injustice along with the motif time, to develop and further his purpose to get equality between the "African American Race" and "White Race". Doctor Martin Luther King Junior says in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” that “The nations of Asia and Africa are moving with jetlike speed toward gaining political independence, but we still creep at horse and buggy pace toward gaining a cup of coffee at a lunch counter. then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait. There comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over, and men are no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair. I hope, sirs, you can understand our legitimate and unavoidable impatience. (Paragraph 12)”. In this quote from Doctor Martin Luther King Junior, Doctor Martin Luther King Junior uses the motif of time by comparing the nations of Asia and Africa moving with a “jetlike speed” while America is only creeping at a “horse and buggy pace”. A jet moves a lot faster than a horse and buggy just creeping along the road. Along with the Motif time Doctor Martin Luther King Junior also uses the action motif, injustice. …show more content…

Doctor Martin Luther King Junior says in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” that “Oppressed people cannot be oppressed forever. The yearning for freedom eventually manifest itself, and that is what has happened to the American Negro. Something within has reminded him of his birthright freedom, and something without has reminded him without you has reminded him that it can be gained.” (paragraph 10). Doctor Martin Luther King Junior uses the motif time in this quote from his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” using words like “eventually” and “forever” to indicate that the “African American Race” will gain its freedom from the control of the “White Race” and they will have equal rights with the "White Race". Doctor Martin Luther King Junior also uses the motif oppression in this quote from his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” using words like “oppressed” and “freedom” to indicate that the “African American Race” will no longer be oppressed by the “White Race” and they will have equal rights with the "White Race". Doctor Martin Luther King Junior uses the rhetorical device unification to show that the “African American Race” is unifying to take down the “White Race” to get equal rights with the "White Race".

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