Letter From Birmingham Jail Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Rhetorical Analysis of “Letter from Birmingham Jail”
In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” in the confines of a jail cell in Birmingham, Alabama, after leading a nonviolent protest for racial equality in American society. The clergymen of Birmingham Jail viewed King’s “activities [as] ‘unwise and untimely’” (1). The letter is directly addressed to eight white clergymen to rebut their statement that the demonstrations, nonviolent protests, and acts of civil disobedience of the Black community were unlawful. Dr. King appeals to the clergymen by strategically using pathos to trigger an emotional aspect. He also employs ethos and logos to make his position transparent. The combination of pathos, ethos, and logos

Martin Luther King’s rhetorical choice of using pathos is utilized to humanize himself and his actions, but he also uses it to humanize the audience, the eight clergymen. In the first paragraph, King answers the claims of the clergymen; he opens by stating, “Seldom…if I sought to answer all the criticisms that cross my desk…I would have no time for constructive work. But since I feel that you are men of genuine good will and that your criticisms are sincerely set forth, I want to try to answer your statement in what I hope will be patient and reasonable terms.” Addressing his respect for the clergymen by stating he would personally take time to respond to them would make the clergymen feel important or feigned. King is acknowledging the effectiveness of respect for those in power, whether they may or may not deserve it. Later in the letter, he goes on to exclaim his disappointment in the leadership of Birmingham: “In spite of my shattered dreams, I came to Birmingham with the hope the white religious leadership of this community would see the justice of our cause and, with deep moral concern, would serve as the channel through which our just grievances could reach the power structure. I had hoped that each of you would understand. But again I have been disappointed” (28). Dr.

“I am here because I have organizational ties here…I am in Birmingham because injustice is here” (2-3). King uses two lines of reasoning to justify his presence in the city. First, he argues that he was invited by his congregation. Therefore, he had not “trespassed” or come to create chaos; on the contrary, he was in the city as a guest. In the second line, he states the true reason of his presence in Birmingham: “because injustice is here.” King later writes, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (4). He is justified and had every right to protest in the city of Birmingham, for civil liberties and justice. Challenged by the opposing, white population, comfortable in their segregated establishments and ideologies. King utilizes logos to help his audience understand the urgency of the Civil Rights movement and directly address the criticisms against his presence in Birmingham. “Sometimes a law is just on its face and unjust in its application. For instance, I have been arrested on a charge of parading without a permit. Now, there is nothing wrong in having an ordinance which requires a permit for a parade. But such an ordinance becomes unjust when it is used to maintain segregation and to deny citizens the First-Amendment privilege of peaceful assembly and protest” (15). In this example, He recognizes the necessity