ipl-logo

Rhetorical Analysis Of Letter From Birmingham Jail

539 Words3 Pages

In the letter,” Letter from Birmingham Jail,” Martin Luther King responds to eight clergymen who harshly criticize his movement in Birmingham. He explains to them why he got involved in the segregational affairs of Birmingham, his non-violent direct action approach on segregation, and in general his beliefs on segregated America. As a person of a non-white race I commend Martin Luther King Jr. on his actions and bravery in the Civil Rights Movement. Due to his diligence, today I can say that I can enter whatever restaurant of my choice and go to school with children that are white or black. This letter allows me to see more than words on paper, but imagery of the struggle and pain of those who fight against unjust laws. For example, it says,” You warmly commended the Birmingham police… I doubt you would have so warmly …show more content…

if you were to watch them push and curse old Negro women and young Negro girls; If you were to see them slap and kick old Negro men.’’ I believe imagery like this makes the letter have a bigger impact on its audience because it causes people to feel something whether it’s sorrow or anger; and pathos can be a powerful rhetorical appeal. Another aspect of this letter that I think is very clever of King to include, is his use of a lot of religious qoutes and knowledge to back up his beliefs because Christianity is something him and the eight clergymen have in common. For instance, it says,” I was initially disappointed at being categorized as an extremist as I continued to think about the matter I gradually gained a measure of satisfaction from the label. Was not Jesus an extremist for love.” He uses Jesus’ crucifixion to help the clergy see that what he is doing may be

Show More
Related
184 Words | 1 Pages

The Letter from Birmingham Jail proclaims the truth of black suffering out to the white community readers. In Birmingham, it is well known that racial injustice has taken a widespread over the black general public; they are faced with police brutality and the consequences of unjust treatments. Consequently, there are more unsolved bombings of black homes and churches in Birmingham compared to other cities in the country. Their own church, where their family, neighbors, and friends come to peacefully worship were targeted by a hate group. When the victimized communities seek justice, they are ignored.

Read More
542 Words | 3 Pages

In his letter “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. writes in response, a public state of concern to his clergymen. The letter was written in April 1963 based on the racial segregation that took place in Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. King was in jail because he was protesting segregation against blacks in Birmingham. He also uses logos when giving logical reasoning to better explain current events to catch the reader’s attention. He also uses ethos to gain credibility on the matter of racial inequality and negligence, to get the audience’s attention.

Read More
755 Words | 4 Pages

” King is also inducing empathy and anger from his readers. As it nears to the end of the letter, King uses vivid descriptions in this sentence, “[let] us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear-drenched communities, and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty,” in order to activate our emotions

Read More
257 Words | 2 Pages

The letter from Birmingham jail is a strong persuasive letter, especially for its audience, clergymen. King used all kinds of methods, logos, ethos, pathos. He is very insightful about his audience. King, as a clergyman himself, understand what other clergymen’s perspective and what they believe in. To start this letter, King addresses the recipient as “dear fellow clergymen”.

Read More
499 Words | 2 Pages

In 1963, eight Alabama clergymen issued a seemingly hypocritical public statement accusing outsiders of leading extreme demonstrations of protest in Birmingham, Alabama, and urging local citizens to allow racial issues to be resolved by the courts. In response, civil rights activist, Martin Luther King Jr., wrote “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” which outlined the reasoning and timing of the demonstrative actions. While King’s letter exhibits an effective use of all three Aristotelian rhetorical appeals, the following analysis focuses primarily on his use of logos. His inclusion of analogies along with descriptive diction assists in emphasizing his reasoning in an attempt to logically convince his readers that waiting for the courts to settle racial injustices had proved inefficient.

Read More
1022 Words | 5 Pages

Throughout his letter King aids his point through the use of rhetorical devices. King does this by making stark comparisons, alluding to the bible and its’ stories, along with the use of figurative language. This gives King’s letter a great literary view and makes it ever more effective in resolving segregation. Within King’s letter

Read More
611 Words | 3 Pages

An orator from Atlanta, Georgia, Martin Luther King – coincidentally achieving similar standards as his predecessor, Martin Luther, in the Civil Rights World – once wrote a letter, which is at times presented as a masterpiece of rhetoric and development. “Letter from a Birmingham City Jail’ was recognized as a genius retort to Alabama Clergymen, who wished for Martin Luther to leave Birmingham due to his “outsider” title and the “hatred and violence” his peaceful conventions have caused. Throughout his letter, Martin Luther develops a tone that redefines his argument, stabilizing it even, for his purpose – to challenge the ideas of the Clergymen who found his being in Birmingham nonbeneficial to the city’s already stretched-out line of racial tension – of refuting the Clergymen.

Read More
458 Words | 2 Pages

Visionary champion of the American dream and interracial brotherhood, Martin Luther King is widely acclaimed for his unwavering leadership during the African-American Civil Rights Movement. As a pastor and activist, King consistently preached a doctrine of non-violent civil disobedience based on his beliefs in equality and the Christian faith. On April 16, 1963, while in solitary confinement in an Alabama Jail, King completed “Letter from Birmingham Jail” which would become one of the most seminal texts of the Civil Rights Movement. King’s patient tone throughout the work, along with his acute understanding of rhetoric allows him to admonish his critics, reach a diverse audience, create a reverberating call for justice, and present a blistering critique of the United States’ duplicity regarding equality. The quintessential text of the African- American Civil Rights Movement, King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” was instrumental in both galvanizing the Civil Rights Movements and creating the platform for freedom and equality in the present day United States.

Read More
590 Words | 3 Pages

Civil rights activist, Martin Luther King, in his speech, “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” articulates his ideas about civil disobedience and nonviolent resistance. King’s purpose is to answer complaints from his fellow clergymen and assert his position on events involving civil rights. He adopts a polite tone in order to appeal to experiences and similar feelings in his fellow clergymen, while also inspiring the people in his nation to act. Martin Luther King, Jr. justifies the legitimacy of his actions by connecting to his audience through the common ground of their circumstances.

Read More
614 Words | 3 Pages

In the written document “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” Dr. King wrote the letter for his fellow eight white clergymen who disapprove of his direct actions in a nonviolent protest of racial inequality. As a result from his imprisonment, he wants the clergymen to understand why he selected that day to protest; additionally, he wants them to know that he should

Read More
1740 Words | 7 Pages

A Letter from Birmingham Jail is written after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr is arrested and incarcerated in downtown Birmingham. Initially, he writes the text of his letter in the margins newspaper and later on paper in which his attorney provides. Dr. King is responding to criticisms demonstrated by eight prominent white clergy man. Through out history, this letter has been found to be of great importance.

Read More
496 Words | 2 Pages

Word count 492) I feel emotionally traumatized while reading the letter from Birmingham jail by Martin Luther King. I cannot imagine that although many people were Christians, black people were still inhumanely treated and marginalized during segregation period. I believe Martin Luther King is a hero, considering the way he was so courageous and optimist to peacefully fight for freedom of black community regardless of the consequences. He says that whatever happens to one of them will affect the whole community, so they should work together as people of United State.

Read More
740 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More
427 Words | 2 Pages

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.

Read More
709 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More

More about Rhetorical Analysis Of Letter From Birmingham Jail

Open Document