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Letter From Birmingham Jail Rhetorical Analysis

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Martin Luther King, born on January 15, 1929. Martin Luther King, Jr. is one of the most influential civil rights activists of our time. He led many non-violent protests demanding that segregation be outlawed. He constantly proclaimed the use of oppression is the biggest contradiction to everything America is supposed to stand for. In 1963, Martin Luther was asked by activists of Birmingham, Alabama to lead a non-violent protest for desegregation, fair hiring practices, and the establishment of a biracial citizens’ committee. The city government of Birmingham passed a legal provision banning street marches without permission. The black people were not happy with this unfair legislation, which did not allow the blacks to protest for equality. Martin Luther King felt compelled …show more content…

Patton analyzed King’s use of the name of god in “A Transforming Response: Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail” Patton wrote that King extends his argument by continuing the rhetorical model of reflection and musing. When King write "the judgment of God is upon the Church as never before," (paragraph 20) Patton felt he did this to open a spiritual basis for civil rights action over and beyond the boundaries of institutionalized religion. He writes, “On the other hand, King gave audiences a view of the movement and his leadership as connected with the "inner spiritual church," at once validating the moral basis for civil rights and extending its claims to diverse secular audiences.” Edward Berry, also analyzed King’s use of god and religion in “Doing Time: Kings “Letter From Birmingham Jail.” Berry felt that when King compared his work to the work of the apostle Paul he merged his contemporary ministry with Paul's ministry, his own revolutionary moment in Birmingham with the revolutionary history of the church. Berry said, “In doing so, he not only expands the historical and religious significance of the movement but the role he himself plays within

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In paragraphs 33 to 44 of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s response to “A Call for Unity,” a declaration by eight clergymen, “Letter from Birmingham Jail” (1963), he expresses that despite his love for the church, he is disappointed with its lack of action regarding the Civil Rights Movement. Through powerful, emotionally-loaded diction, syntax, and figurative language, King adopts a disheartened tone later shifts into a determined tone in order to express and reflect on his disappointment with the church’s inaction and his goals for the future. King begins this section by bluntly stating that he is “greatly disappointed” (33) with the church, though he “will remain true to it as long as the cord of life shall lengthen” (33). By appealing to ethos and informing the audience of his history with the church, he indicates that he is not criticizing the church for his own sake, but for the good of the church.

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Martin Luther King Jr. was an American baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the Civil Rights Movement in 1954. He had a great impact on race relations in the U.S. and he made a great impact on many lives. He died in 1968. Dr. King wrote 2 famous works, “Dream” and “Birmingham” and each had a different audience and purpose. Both works utilizes the persuasive techniques of pathos in “Dream” and logos in “Birmingham.”

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Troy Jackson effectively convinced the reader that the people of Montgomery did in fact influence King to be a national leader for civil rights. The way Jackson “[humanized] Martin Luther King Jr., without diminishing his greatness”, along with the surplus of quotes and evidence, added to the credibility of his argument that ultimately convinced us (Walton 3). Becoming King: Martin Luther King Jr. and The Making of a National Leader, by Troy Jackson, focuses on the development of Martin luther King Jr. when he first arrives in Montgomery all the way until he leaves for Atlanta. Jackson provides new insight that makes this book a refreshing change of

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Martin Luther King is not just an African-American who wants to protest against injustice. However, he is the “president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization operating in every

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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.

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Have you ever read an article or book that express a lot of sympathy and it made you feel as if you can feel their pain. “The Letter From Birmingham Jail” displays the true meaning of pathos. After reading this” letter” emotions will overflow. Dr. King wrote with so much passion and courage, that it makes his readers feel as if they were part of the movement. He shows his concerns for the African American community by expressing their thoughts and feelings because they feel as if they have no voice.

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King uses biblical allusions to appeal to the eight white clergymen and their religious affiliation when he states his duty to carry the “gospel of freedom beyond his home town... Like Paul.” His final point of this section is the clergymen’s failure to recognize the underlying causes of the demonstrations they so harshly condemn, a failure causing further ignorance and confusion on racial

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Civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr, in his Letter from Birmingham City Jail, argues against criticism from eight Alabama clergymen, and addresses their concerns. He defends his position, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), against accusations of disturbing the peace in Birmingham, as well as explaining his values and opinions. Throughout the letter, King adopts a strong logical and credible tone, and reinforces his position through the use of strong emotional justifications, in order to appeal to the clergymen and defend his public image. Martin Luther King opens up his Letter from Birmingham City Jail by appealing to the clergymen's emotions, and assuring his peaceful response, which he describes in "patient and

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MLK’s ultimate claim is that the church is to blame for these happenings and “the judgement of God is upon the Church as never before”(276). King stated how even the people who were in the church trying to fight for justice had been looked down upon and some had been kicked out of their own churches. King’s claims were passionately presented. He relentlessly provided evidence to prove his position on the issue of injustice and also showed ample amounts of examples to solve these problems.

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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.

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1718 Words | 7 Pages

He arrived in Birmingham with the hopes that the white religious leadership in the community would see the pressing nature of their cause and serve as the channel that would allow their grievances to reach the power structure. He had high hopes that each member in the church would understand their issues and try to help their fellow christian brothers with their fight for a much needed change, but again he was disappointed. “In the midst of blatant injustices inflicted upon the Negro, I have watched white churchmen stand on the sideline and mouth pious irrelevancies and sanctimonious trivialities” (MLK 7). He then continues to say that the churches conformity to the status quo and their negligence of the civil rights movement has made the contemporary church weak. King then writes of his disposition with the church, asking “Is organized religion too inextricably bound to the status quo to save our nation and the world?”

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1. Ethos, Logos, and Pathos are important aspects in Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. The meaning behind Ethos is to appeal to ethics, which means convincing readers of the author’s credibility, meanwhile Pathos is an appeal to emotion, and is used in literature to convince readers of an argument by getting their emotions involved. Last but not least, Logos is the appeal to logic and is used to persuade readers using a force of reason. These terms are important in MLK’s Letter from Birmingham Jail because the foundation of the letter is built upon ideas of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos.

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Above all, King elucidates that communism’s core is righteousness instead of judgment, and the most serious problem of the traditional capitalism is profit motives, and no one can find truth in either Marxism or Capitalism. And then, King expounds the benefits to believe in God and face our fears. He says that we can master fear through courage, love and faith. In addition, King provides Apostle Paul’s letter written to American Christians, to convey the suspicion that Americans’ spiritual progress cannot catch up their scientific advance, and to promote a hopeful huge progress of civilization. At the very end, King finally mentions the word, “nonviolence,” which he suggests in the whole sermon.

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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.

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In “A Letter From A Birmingham Jail” Martin Luther King Jr defends his use of nonviolent protest in order to accomplish racial equality. In the letter, Dr. King uses ethos, diction, and allusions when defending nonviolent protest which makes his argument really strong. His goal is to make the clergymen help him fight racial equality. He uses ethos to build up credibility.

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