Rhetorical Analysis Of Letter From Birmingham Jail

African Americans have been denied their constitutional rights for three centuries, or three hundred and forty years, prior to the implementation of segregation in the United States. This time period includes the Civil War, the Civil Rights Movement, and slavery. African American leaders soon began to speak out for social change and the advancement of civil rights in society as a result of the denial of their rights, but their efforts were frequently met with hostility and violence from those who wanted to keep things as they were. During his time in Birmingham Jail, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was forced to face these harsh realities and the terrible realization that his efforts to create change might be in vain. In his “Letter from Birmingham

He specifically emphasizes his frustration with individuals who advocate for patience and slow change yet have never personally experienced the injustice of segregation. As he puts it, "I guess it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say ‘wait’" (King 2). This comment demonstrates King's frustration and sense of injustice toward those who have not experienced his situation. King expresses his wish for the audience to understand the pressing urgency of the civil rights movement and the requirement for bold action in this statement. Additionally, King's encounter with a prejudiced judicial system is a potent example of the discrimination African Americans encounter in the struggle of basic human rights. As he notes in his personal experience, "For instance, I was arrested Friday on a charge of parading without a permit. Now, there is nothing wrong with an ordinance which requires a permit for a parade, but when the ordinance is used to preserve segregation and to deny citizens the First Amendment privilege of peaceful assembly and peaceful protest, then it becomes unjust" (King 3). This statement emphasizes the injustice and unfairness of the situation and evokes a strong emotional response from the reader. While King acknowledges that obtaining a permit for a parade is not inherently unfair, he emphasizes that it

effectively uses pathos in his writing to evoke powerful emotional reactions from his readers by addressing their sense of morality and righteousness.He argues that people have a moral duty to stand up against injustice, distinguishing between just and unjust laws, "An unjust law is no law at all" (King 3). King instills a strong sense of moral responsibility in his readers by appealing to their sense of fairness and justice. This emphasizes that they have a responsibility to speak out against injustice. This is a powerful method of evoking emotion because it appeals to deeply held beliefs and values that are essential to our sense of identity and as a means of creating change. Furthermore, King emphasizes the value of love and nonviolence, appealing to the greatest ideals and beliefs of his readers. “I have tried to stand between these two forces, saying that we need not follow the do-nothingism of the complacent or the hatred and despair of the black nationalist. There is a more excellent way, of love and nonviolent protest.” (King 4). King is able to evoke an emotional response in his readers and motivate them to take action by portraying the civil rights issue in terms of justice and wrong. He effectively uses emotion in the fight for social justice. In conclusion, King employs a moral and ethical connection to evoke a sense of pathos in his audience and inspire them to take action against