Dr. Martin Luther was sent to Birmingham, Alabama Jail because he was being considered an outsider. He writes a letter to the clergymen to respond to their criticism of his campaign.To develop his argument that his activities are not "unwise and untimely," King uses various rhetorical devices and appeal. In his beginning paragraphs, King uses ethos in his writing as an attempt to establish credibility. He makes a claim that he is not an outsider, therefore, he supports his claim by organizational ties, including "biblical duties", and interrelatedness of America. Dr. King informs the clergymen on how he is "serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference" and how he was invited there. He adds this to let them know that he has organizational ties there and that he is not an outsider. He goes on to talk about his "biblical duties". In paragraph 3, he talks about Apostle Paul leaving his village to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. He relates that to himself by saying "so am I compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own home town." Like Paul, I must constantly respond to the Macedonian call for aid". In these sentences he compares the Apostle Paul carrying the gospel far along …show more content…
King uses imagery, metaphors, and emotional language to intensify his idea that the African Americans would obtain justice overtime. King says "Now is the time to lift our national policy from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of human dignity." He says this to express that there is no time to waste and that now is the time to change before it is too late. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. uses emotional language to make his audience feel a certain way. In this paragraph he uses words like "brotherhood", "solid rock of human dignity", and "co workers with god". He uses terms like those to appeal to the clergymen and make them feel more connected with African Americans. He does this in hope that they will decide that now is the