1963 and 1964, two pivotal years in American history. In 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. wrote “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and in 1964 Malcom X wrote “The Ballot or the Bullet”. Before, during, and after these two years the United States was a place where racial equality was inexistent. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were pioneers in bringing attention to this issue. Both men wrote letters and released them to the public, one from a jail cell and another recited his letter in a church. These letters were intended for the citizens of the United States but more importantly focusing on the authorities who could make a difference in the racial inequality. Based off the two men’s own experiences, they hoped to change the way people treat one …show more content…
This is a form of ethos because it is personal branding. He is identifying himself to let the audience know that he is credible and knows what he is talking about. This is persuasive because it is easier for people to trust someone that has a title because it shows authority. As he refers to himself as the president of the conference, he explains what his role as president entails to inform his audience. His role is to engage in a nonviolent direct action program in Birmingham if it is necessary (MLK 1). By letting the audience know his role and what it entails, he is beginning to form a connection.
Malcolm X uses ethos by identifying himself with religion. He repeatedly states, “I’m still a Muslim” and recognizes that his audience can also be Muslim or have other religions. This is important because although he is identifying himself in a specific way, he finds a way to relate to others through religion. As ethos is used to identify yourself, he also uses it to relate to others. He says, “whether we are Christians or Muslims or nationalists or agnostics or atheists, we must first learn to forget our differences”, this is a clear example of using his authority to bring the people