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Letter From Birmingham Jail Essay

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While looking at Martin Luther King’s letter “letter from Birmingham jail” there are many strong paragraphs in the letter that influence us as readers. His use of words like “honor, injustice, disappointment and most importantly oppressed” are all a form of ethos used to influence the reader and allow us to understand what the black community was facing in their battle for equality. While there are many great paragraphs in the letter, arguably the most powerful paragraph in Martin Luther King’s Jr. letter “letter from Birmingham jail” is paragraph 23. This paragraph provides us with Martin Luther King’s frustrations. In addition, it is filled with emotion, motivation and an appeal for justice, allowing us to connect with Martin Luther King …show more content…

As stated in his letter ‘"Get rid of your discontent." But I have tried to say that this normal and healthy discontent can be channeled through the creative outlet of nonviolent direct action’’ (Letter from Birmingham Jail page 4). Indeed this quote from his letter is a direct view of his thought as we know he organized peaceful protest and stayed away from violence. Through these words we can clearly see how he has tried repeatedly to have his voice heard but there is always some form of criticism behind his efforts. Secondly, he states.” Now this approach is being dismissed as extremist. I must admit that I was initially disappointed in being so categorized” (Letter from Birmingham Jail page 4). Simultaneously this adds to his feelings and frustrations; it lets us understand he is trying his best but as well know even the best of work gets criticized. Thus, these quotes also allow the reader to reflect on their own morals and understanding, allowing them to see the wants and needs of the black community during this time. Next Look at the paragraph. We can see it is filled with emotion and his use of words really pulls at the reader’s emotional

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The letter struck a bad note with King and he began to write a response on the newspaper itself. The Letter from Birmingham Jail was a response to calls on the movement to pursue legal channels for social change. He would argue that the crisis of racism is too urgent, and that the current system is too entrenched. He would go on to say in his letter that “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed” (King 1963). King went on to say a year later, “Begun on the margins of the newspaper in which the statement appeared while I was in jail, the letter was continued on scraps of writing paper supplied by a friendly black trusty, and concluded on a pad my attorneys were eventually permitted to leave me” (King

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