60 years ago Dr Martin Luther King wrote “Letter From a Birmingham Jail” in response to a criticism letter he received for his protesting for civil rights. Dr King was jailed for his peaceful protest in Birmingham on Easter weekend about equal rights for people of color. In doing this, he upset some clergymen who did not believe his protest was timely or wise. Dr King wrote this letter using different language devices to prove his protest was done in a timely manner and that it was a wise decision on his part. Dr King was originally criticized for not having a purpose being in Birmingham. His first response to the clergy men was to his qualifications on why he belongs in Birmingham. In this he uses ethos and logos to appeal to the clergy men. Dr King states “I think I should indicate why I am …show more content…
This highlights a logical response, logos, indicating specific reasons why he should be in Birmingham. In his first response, Dr King uses logos to express a logical appeal and ethos to present his credibility for being in Birmingham. Dr. King then leads to explain that the timing was perfect for his protest, he explains that the racial injustices that have held people of color needed to stop as soon as possible. Dr King states “We must come to see with one of our distinguished jurists, that ‘justice too long delayed is justice denied’”. What this means is that because racism has been a problem and nobody in power has addressed it, so people need to address it themselves, this is a logical response rather than an emotional thought. Later on in his response he states “when your first name becomes ‘N’ (expletive), your middle name becomes ‘boy’ (however old you are) and your last name becomes ‘Jhon’, and your wife and mother are never given the respective title ‘Mrs’ when you are harried by day and haunted by night by the fact you are