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• “A Letter From Birmingham Jail” and “I Have A Dream” by M. L. King Jr. He is of the view that almost all the demonstrations taking place in Birmingham are futile in the case of the black Americans and it is the most segregated city in the United States.
• “Letter From Birmingham Jail” Rhetorical Analysis Essay He supports his argument in the next paragraph, where he puts it across that they have been governed by a combination of unjust and just law whereby there is a need to separate the two.
• King’s Allusion in “Letter From Birmingham Jail” Through allusion to Apostle Paul, King attempted to stress that he also wanted to spread freedom. In the same manner, King believed that people could unite to combat oppression.
• Justice in “Letter From Birmingham Jail” by King The main topic of the letter is the discussion of the issue of justice and injustice.Dr. In the discussion of just and unjust laws, Dr.
• The Letter From Birmingham Jail and Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inauguration Address Owing to the historic social implications these works had in America, reflecting on the connectors, disparities, and the most outstanding aspects of Lincoln’s and King’s works is imperative to understanding their unique quests for social […]
• Critical Analysis of “Letter From Birmingham Jail” The author accuses these leaders of supporting the status quo by refusing to support the cause of the Americans in their attempt to have these laws changed or repealed.
• Analysis of the Kings Letter From Birmingham Jail From the biblical stand, the king was justified to move in the hope that his contributions would bring change in the destined world.
• Rhetorical Techniques in “Letter From Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King His flawless use of metaphors and parallelism allows the reader or the audience to empathize with King and support him in his fight against racial injustice.
• King ‘s “Letter From Birmingham Jail” and Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience” Despite this fact, both King and Thoreau had a common goal to expose the unjust laws that govern a society of civil resistance to unjust laws It should be stressed that both King and Thoreau […]
• “Letter From Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr. King that supports his position is that protests began after multiple attempts by the representatives of the Black community to regulate disagreements peacefully and attract White authorities’ attention to the inappropriateness of segregation. Thus, the […]
• King’s Letter From Birmingham Jail on Justice In his Letter from Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King, a fighter for the rights of African Americans, repeats the idea of freedom and equality for US citizens.
• “Letter From Birmingham Jail” by M. L. King, Jr. In conclusion, King’s letter is an example of a work that has all the elements to be convincing and meaningful to society and its history.
• Extremism in King’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail” Initially, he dismissed the idea that he was an extremist; however, later, he redefined that label.Dr. He further noted that true extremists were the participants of the different black nationalist groups.
• Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter From Birmingham Jail He raises the stakes in his letter by pointing out “…the intent of our peaceful, active action is to generate a crisis-filled situation that will certainly necessitate commencement of negotiations”. King’s letter reveal a man […]
• King’s ‘The letter From Birmingham Jail’ He claims that since the clergy is not willing to listen to them and give them their rights, they have to show the importance of the matter by holding non-violent demonstrations.
• Changing the Unjust Laws: “Letter From Birmingham Jail” Therefore, the main aim of the letter was to push for the changing of the unjust laws as well as upholding the Supreme Court ruling of the year 1954.
• Separate but Equal: “Letter From Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr. In particular, it is necessary to analyze this work in terms of ethos, pathos, and logos and the way in which King balances these three appeals in order to convince the readers.
• Martin Luther King’s “Letter From a Birmingham Jail” This letter from Birmingham Jail analysis essay shall highlight some of the issues discussed in the historic letter including King’s reason for being in Birmingham and why he felt compelled to break the law.
• The Political Undertones in “Letter From Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr.
• An Analysis of Unjust and Just Laws in America in the “Letter From Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr.
• Argumentative Synthesis “Letter From Birmingham Jail”
• A Comparison of Martin Luther King’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail” and Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience
• Appeal to Emotions in “Letter From Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr.
• The Counter-Argument to the Public Statement of Alabama Clergymen in Martin Luther King Junior’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail”
• An Interpretation of Martin Luther King’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail”
• An Argument Towards Several Clergy Men in “Letter From Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King
• The Strong Moral Values as Portrayed in King’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail”
• An Analysis of Whether It Is Moral or Not to Disobey Laws in the Articles of “Crito” by Plato and “Letter From Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr.
• The Use of Literary Elements in Martin Luther King’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail”
• Logical Fallacies in “Letter From Birmingham Jail”
• Unveiling the Battle Against Racism in “Letter From Birmingham Jail”
• Exploration of Civil Disobedience in Sophocles’ “Antigone,” King’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail,” and Plato’s “Crito”
• “Letter From Birmingham Jail” and Martin Luther King Jr.’s Leadership Style
• Prejudice and Discrimination Depicted in “The Myth of the Latin Woman” and “Letter From Birmingham Jail”
• A Rhetorical Analysis of Martin Luther King’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail”
• The Need of Equality and Peace for the African American Community in “Letter From Birmingham Jail” by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
• The Ideas of Wholeness and Brokenness in Victor Frankl’s “Man’ Search for Meaning” and Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail”
• Evaluation of “Letter From Birmingham Jail” and Resistance to Civil Government
• Right or Wrong to Break the Law and “Letter From Birmingham Jail”
• The Role of Education and Critical Literacy and “Letter From Birmingham Jail”
• Freedom From Oppression in “Night” by Elie Wiesel, the Autobiography of Malcolm X, and “Letter From Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr.
• Martin Luther King as Activist and Outsider and His “Letter From Birmingham Jail”
• Moral and Political History of “Letter From Birmingham Jail”
• The Ethos of Martin Luther King Junior’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail”: Wisdom, Argument, and Morality
• Value of Community for Human and “Letter From Birmingham Jail”
• The Use of Figurative Language in Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail”
• Using the Rhetorical Triangle “Letter From Birmingham Jail” Dr. Martin Luther King
• The Resemblance of the Rogerian Argument in “Letter From Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr.
• The Relevance of “Letter From Birmingham Jail”
• The Sin of Morality in Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail” and Virginia Woolf’s “A Room of One’s Own”
• Social Justice and Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail”
• White Privilege and “Letter From Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr.
• The Efficient Use of Ethos, Logos, and Pathos in “Letter From Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr.
• An Argument in Favor of the Abortion Protest as Justified and the Speeding Case Unjustified in “Letter From Birmingham Jail”
• The Purpose of “Letter From Birmingham Jail” by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
• The Power of Persuasion to Change Situation in “Letter From Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr.
• How Martin Luther King Pushes for a Fight Against the Injustices Caused by Racial Inequality in “Letter From Birmingham Jail”?
• What Is the Primary Purpose of the “Letter From Birmingham Jail” Quizlet?
• What Did Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail” Argue?
• What Is the Connection Between “Letter From Birmingham Jail” and Resistance to Civil Government?
• What Are the Three Main Ideas of “Letter From Birmingham Jail”?
• Who Is Martin Luther King Jr Addressing in His “Letter From Birmingham Jail”?
• What Is the Main Conclusion of “Letter From Birmingham Jail”?
• What Was King’s Primary Purpose for Writing This Letter in “Letter From Birmingham Jail”?
• How Do “Letter From Birmingham Jail” and “More Perfect Union” Alike and Also Different?
• What Are Just and Unjust Laws According to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In His “Letter From Birmingham Jail”?
• How Does the “Letter From Birmingham Jail” Deal With the Subject of Race?
• How Is Justifies the Abortion Protests Based on Justified Civil Disobedience Concept in the “Letter From Birmingham Jail”?
• Why Is “Letter From Birmingham Jail” Important?
• How in “Letter From Birmingham Jail” Describe Against Discrimination and Segregation?
• What Is the Connection Between “Letter From Birmingham Jail” and Civil Disobedience?
• What Are Martin Luther King’s Reasons for Protest Explained in His “Letter From Birmingham Jail”?
• What Is the Thesis of “Letter From Birmingham Jail”?
• How Martin Luther King’s Use of Historical and Religious Figures in His “Letter From Birmingham Jail”?
• How Did Martin Luther Kings Use Pathos and Logos in His “Letter From Birmingham Jail”?
• What Is the Connection Between Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail,” Contemporary America, and U.S. Foreign Policy?
• How Prejudice and Discrimination Depicted in “Letter From Birmingham Jail”?
• What Used Rhetorical Strategies for Martin Luther King’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail”?
• How Is Influenced on the Society the Martin Luther King Jr. “Letter From Birmingham Jail”?
• What Was the Main Point of the “Letter From Birmingham Jail”?
• What Are the Strong Moral Values Portrayed in King’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail”?
• What Are the Tone and Writing Techniques of “Letter From Birmingham Jail”?
• How Describes White Privilege in “Letter From Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr.?
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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Letter from Birmingham Jail

Martin luther king, jr., ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Letter From Birmingham Jail

By martin luther king, jr., letter from birmingham jail essay questions.

Discuss Dr. King’s use of restraint in the “Letter.” What does it reveal about his purpose, and what is its effect?

Considering the context of its creation, the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is remarkably restrained in tone. Throughout his career, many critics of Dr. King argued that he was too deferential to the white authorities that facilitated segregation and other racist policies, but the tone here seems to serve several purposes. First, it conforms to his ultimate purpose of justifying his cause as being in the name of justice. He does not wish to validate his audience’s deep-seeded fears - that the black movement is an extremist set that will engender violence. Therefore, by utilizing restraint, he earns a sympathetic ear to which he then declares his proud embrace of extremism and tension. His difficult arguments end up practically unimpeachable precisely because he has presented them through logos as well as through pathos. However, the restraint also allows him to reinforce one of the letter’s central themes, the interconnectedness of man. There are times when he distinguishes himself and his cause from that of his opponents, particularly in terms of race. However, he for the most part suggests that all men are responsible for all others, an idea that would not be as effective if the tone of the argument was too fiery and confrontational.

How does the “Letter” deal with the subject of race?

Considering it was written in a situation so infused with racial issues, the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is often strangely divorced from explicitly racial issues. Obviously, Dr. King cannot avoid the topic, but much of his argument, especially in the letter’s first half, is presented in universalist terms and through abstractions like “justice” and the interrelatedness of man. He argues that the clergymen, and his larger audience, should support his cause not because the victims are black but because it is the right thing to do. However, this passionate but restrained argument ultimately sets the stage for a declaration of what scholar Jonathan Rieder calls “a proclamation of black self-sufficiency” (94). Once he establishes the definitions of justice and morality, Dr. King argues that the black man will succeed with or without the help of white moderates because they operate with the just ideals of both secular America and divine guidance. Further, he implicitly suggests that by continuing to facilitate the oppression of the black man through moderation, his audience is operating in sin and will ultimately be on the losing side.

Why does Dr. King decry moderation?

In Dr. King’s argument, moderation is a reflection of the moderate’s ignorant and unwitting sinfulness. In terms of the former, the white moderate operates under an illusion that patience will be more effective towards ending segregation than tension will be. Through a variety of legally-structured arguments, Dr. King illustrates the fallacy of both these assumptions. He argues that moderation is but a handy disguise for cowards who fear upsetting the status quo more than desire to pursue justice. However, because he stipulates that his audience is ostensibly interested in the virtue of justice, he argues that moderation allows them license to live in a sinfulness of inaction. To view the suffering of others but to remain silent facilitates a world where men are “separate,” which he equates with sinfulness. Through a variety of unambiguous comparisons – the just crusader to Jesus, and the moderates to those who did not protect the Jews of Nazi Germany – Dr. King decries moderation as the largest obstacle towards equal rights in America at the time.

How does the discussion of group immorality relate to the letter’s overall purpose?

One recurring idea that supports Dr. King’s arguments is that group mentality supports and enables immorality, and that the individual must therefore act for justice even when the group does not share that goal. He makes this point explicitly in the early part of the “Letter.” This argument supports his defense of civil disobedience, allows him to criticize the church for supporting the status quo rather than empowering crusaders for change, and supports the idea that law must reflect morality since it might otherwise be designed solely for the comfort of the majority. Overall, the discussion of group immorality supports his purpose of encouraging individual action in the face of injustice, and criticizing those who do not support such individual action for fear of upsetting the status quo.

Who is the letter’s intended audience?

On the surface, “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is intended for the Birmingham clergymen who published an open letter criticizing the actions of Dr. King and the SCLC. And yet little by little, it becomes clear that Dr. King intends this statement for a much larger audience. Based on the arguments he makes and the stipulations he assumes, it is possible to construct the audience he means to be affected by this letter: a moderate, white, generally moral but conflicted group. He is clearly addressing people who represent the power class, but assumes in several arguments that they support the ideals of justice, at least on the surface. More specifically, he assumes they accept the validity of Christian morality. And yet his harsh tone is much more universalist than simply the criticism of the clergymen would support. In attacking moderation, he addresses himself to parties as high-ranking as the Kennedys to as everyday as students and churchgoers who are witnessing the changes of the civil rights era without admitting their own moral responsibility to support it as a quest for positive change.

Professor Jonathan Rieder argues that the “Letter” can be understood as having two sections: the “Diplomat” and “Prophet” sections. What does this mean, and how do these sections differ?

While Rieder’s designations are perhaps too tight to be perfectly applicable, they do help to understand the overall progression of “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” At the beginning, Dr. King is playing a “diplomat,” attempting to reach a certain end through polite, restrained means. His hope is that he will not only defend himself against the clergymen and white moderates in general, but also that he will encourage them to support his cause. Knowing that their fears and anxieties will predispose them to doubt his call to action, he presents the call through a variety of rational arguments and personal pathos. And yet as the arguments progress, Dr. King’s attacks become less passive aggressive and more direct, moving him into a sort of “prophet” who no longer argues that he needs the support of his audience. Though he obviously would prefer it, he is firm in his commitment to justice and certain that his cause will succeed because of that commitment. By the end, he is no longer arguing, but telling his audience that change will come, and that they should join him not because he needs them, but because they need it so as to not avoid later regret over their cowardice and sinfulness.

Discuss Dr. King’s use of allusions throughout the text. How do they strengthen his argument and underscore his overall message?

Due to the extent of his higher learning, Dr. King had ready access to a number of allusions from a variety of religious and secular traditions, and he makes full use of that knowledge in the “Letter.” While each allusion serves a particular purpose in the context of the argument in which it is used, when taken together they underline two aspects of his argument. First is his argument that all men are interrelated, and responsible for one another. The multiple traditions from which Dr. King draws his allusions reflects this belief, showing his deference for and trust in a variety of approaches, including: secular theory; Jewish theology; Christian thinkers; political figures; and historical persons. Secondly, Dr. King’s use of multiple traditions for his allusions reinforces the unimpeachability of his argument. By directing the text to peoples of so many backgrounds, and using their most celebrated figures to support his case, he makes it difficult for any person to view the overall argument as separate from him or his own culture or background.

In what ways does the “Letter” attack the clergymen even when being outwardly deferential towards them?

If nothing else, “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is a masterpiece of pointed passive aggression. Even when he becomes more confrontational in the letter’s second half, Dr. King is always deferential, offering the possibility that the clergymen sin from ignorance or error, thereby offering them a way to backtrack. And yet his attacks are incessant, usually through implicit threats or suggestions. When he explains the many distinctions that support his cause – such as the differences between just and unjust laws, violence and nonviolence, or just means and unjust ends – he is implicitly suggesting that the clergymen are too dense to realize the nuances of the situation they have so openly criticized. In other cases, he uses unimpeachable figures – like Jesus Christ or Abraham Lincoln – to illustrate the basic way in which the clergymen are acting hypocritically. Finally, he uses occasional warnings, suggesting that oppressed people will inevitably fight for freedom, and so the clergymen are inviting violent revolution if they do not support Dr. King’s nonviolent crusade. Overall, the “Letter” is a litany of attacks even though it is presented more as a defense.

In what ways do Dr. King’s repeated references to Socrates help to elucidate his overall approach?

Except for Jesus Christ, Socrates is the allusion Dr. King most often uses to make his point. Though the allusion serves several particular purposes – as a symbol of wisdom or of civil disobedience – it often speaks to Dr. King’s overall approach in the “Letter.” The Socratic dialogues are masterpieces of misdirection, as Socrates does not offer answers but rather questions assertions made by other people. His overall point is ultimately made by speaking in his opponent’s language, hence showing the natural human inclination towards fallacy. Dr. King uses a similar approach, structuring most of his letter as a direct defense against the criticism published by the clergymen. By speaking in their voice, he suggests a sense of deference even as he is dismantling his opponents’ arguments and revealing them as misguided, or worse, fools. Further, he frequently uses their definitions to show how they are contradicting themselves. Though Dr. King has a more pointed suggestion to make about the world than Socrates did, he nevertheless recognized in the Socratic method a rhetorical approach that would pacify the knee-jerk defenses of his opponents so he could then defeat them.

Detail the distinction between just and unjust laws. Why is it important Dr. King make this distinction?

Arguably the most sophisticated section of the “Letter” is Dr. King’s distinction between just and unjust laws. Simply put, he suggests that just laws uphold human dignity, while unjust laws demean it. Though he makes other subsumed distinctions (like the way just and unjust laws either punish or include minorities), this general definition serves to illustrate his overarching point: that laws are not separate from morality, but instead ought to be reflections of it. Presupposing that his audience accepts the virtue of morality (and more specifically, of Judeo-Christian morality), Dr. King illustrates that unjust laws demean all men, the oppressed and oppressor both. Thus, a moral man cannot simply suffer those laws because they are the law. The argument lays the groundwork for the “Letter” to pose a call to individual action, a defense of those who stand up and sacrifice themselves and their comfort in the name of freedom and justice.

Letter From Birmingham Jail Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Letter From Birmingham Jail is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

what injustices does dr. king describe in the letter from Birmingham jail.

Dr. King provides a moral reason for his presence, saying that he came to Birmingham to battle “injustice.” Because he believes that “all communities and states” are interrelated, he feels compelled to work for justice anywhere that injustice is...

How do allusions that King uses in his letter help the audience relate to him and what he is saying?

King uses allusions to align his arguments with famous thinkers of Western civilization.

John Donne : "New Day in Birmingham" allusion to "No Man is an Island" .

John Bunyan : Puritan writer, imprisoned; "I will stay in jail before I make a butchery...

The timing of the protest continued to change because

D. They did not want to interfere with the mayoral election.

Study Guide for Letter From Birmingham Jail

Letter From Birmingham Jail study guide contains a biography of Martin Luther King, Jr., literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Letter From Birmingham Jail
• Letter From Birmingham Jail Summary
• Character List

Essays for Letter From Birmingham Jail

Letter From Birmingham Jail essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Letter From Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr.

• Rhetorical Analysis of “Letter From a Birmingham Jail”
• How Stoicism Supports Civil Disobedience
• We Are in This Together: Comparing "Letter from Birmingham Jail" and "Sonny's Blues"
• Fighting Inequality with the Past: A Look into "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" and Related Historical Documents
• A Question of Appeal: Rhetorical Analysis of Malcolm X and MLK

Lesson Plan for Letter From Birmingham Jail

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Letter From Birmingham Jail
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Letter From Birmingham Jail Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for Letter From Birmingham Jail

• Introduction
• Summary and themes
• Publication

Essay about “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr

This essay will provide a comprehensive analysis of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” It will dissect the letter’s argumentative structure, its historical context, and the moral and ethical appeals made by King. The piece will explore the letter’s significance in the civil rights movement and its relevance to contemporary social justice issues. PapersOwl offers a variety of free essay examples on the topic of Christianity.

How it works

Martin Luther King Jr., in “ Letter From A Birmingham Jail”(1963), responds to the eight white clergymen who criticized King’s actions in Birmingham as “unwise and untimely”. King was born on January of 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. King grew up in Atlanta, he attended Booker T. Washington High School . King in 1948, graduated at the age of 19 from Morehouse with a B.

A. in sociology. King had later enrolled in Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania, from which he graduated with a B.Div. degree in 1951. He founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957. This conference started to conduct nonviolent protests to gain civil rights to minorities. King lead this organization until his death, he lead marches, and gave speeches. King was also part of the community that looked into the Montgomery bus boycott case in 1955. In 1963 of April King, began a campaign on the segregation happening in Birmingham, Alabama. They used the methods of peaceful protesting. In 1954, King became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. A strong worker for civil rights for members of his race, King was a member of the executive committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Not only that but King made speeches such as “ I Have A Dream”, which called for equality and peace. Another role he played in the Civil Rights Movement was part of the Montgomery Bus Boycott where King was the leader and spokesman. The biggest and most important association of them all. In “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, King appeals to the heart and minds of the clergymen by alluding to the moral authority of christian traditions, American Ideals, and the collective suffering of African Americans.

Martin Luther King compares his actions in Birmingham to important religious authorities and christian beliefs in order to show that the religious authorities have done what King is doing in the past,but have not had the same consequences as King. He believes that he should not be thrown in jail because religious authorities like Apostle Paul have also fought for equality using religion and christian beliefs. Apostle Paul was an Apostle who taught the gospel of Christ to the first- century world.Apostle Paul and King both had the same beliefs and both fought for christian religion and equality. King argues that if the clergymen are really religious how they claim to be, then the clergymen would understand that they made a mistake calling his actions in Birmingham jail unwise and untimely because it was fighting for civil rights. In the Letter From a Birmingham Jail, King states “I would agree with St. Augustine that ‘an unjust law is no law at all”. St. Augustine was an important early Christian philosopher who believed in just laws. He followed the word of Christ and spread it as much as he possibly could. King basically writes to the clergymen questioning them because they do not like what King is doing but they support these religious figures who both fought for the same thing as King, which is civil rights and equality. King fought because there was segregation occurring in the South and he believed that all humans should be treated the same. Segregation was a way to oppress the African American people . Another way that King justifies his actions in Birmingham is the way he starts off his letter. He begins with “ My Dear fellow clergymen” by doing this King puts himself to their level because King is also a believer and follower of god, Christian faith, and equality. King uses this time to remind the Clergymen of the history of injustice laws.

Not only does King compare his actions in Birmingham to religious Christian figures but he also uses the collective suffering of African Americans. King states, “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor, it must be demanded by the oppressed”. King brings up that African Americans had a difficult time in the U.S in the past. They had to deal with unfair treatment and unjust laws. King believes that suppressing the protest in Birmingham is unjust because all he wanted was for segregation to end and for African Americans and everyone else in the world to be treated equal. Segregation was a form of suppressing people of color and King argues that history has time and time again proven that oppression is inhumane and unjust. This belief led King to march to Birmingham to peacefully protest his rights. He also states,”Others have marched with us down nameless streets of the South. They have languished in filthy, roach infested jails, suffering the abuse and brutality of policemen who view them as ‘ dirty nigger lovers”. King uses this to show that segregation was so bad they even mistreated other races who tried to help the African Americans get equal rights. They were thrown in jail and also suffered consequences for no humane reason. People of color were being racially targeted due to white supremacism. King wants people to learn from the past, he wants equality for every person.

King uses American Ideals to justify his peaceful protest in Birmingham Alabama. One American Ideal that King uses is by Thomas Jefferson. King states,”And Thomas Jefferson:’We hold these truths to be self evident , that all men are created equal’. He uses this important political figure to justify his actions because Jefferson believed every person should be treated equally. King was fighting for Civil Rights, which talks about everyone being equal. King does this because he wants to bring attention to these historical moments to remind the world to learn from their mistakes. King also uses Abraham Lincoln,” And Abraham Lincoln :’This nation cannot survive half slave and half free’. King does not want to repeat history. He does not want the people of color to remained suppressed just like before in history when they were oppressed with slavery. These are important historical figures who were great leaders and had belief in equality for every human being. Lincoln fought for slaves when they were first treated as property, he knew slavery was not equality so he fought to change that just like King is fighting for equality instead of segregation. King asks the Clergymen as to why it is fine for Lincoln to fight for equality but not King.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s philosophy was “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”. He believed the segregation to be unequal,the method King used to fight back against segregation was peacefully protesting. He followed in the shoes of Gandhi and Jesus Christ because all of King’s protests were peaceful on his part and it was for Civil Rights. Kings most important achievement in life was the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Civil Rights act allowed minorities to vote, and eliminated segregation. After the death of King there was still people fighting for Civil Rights. Today Civil Rights has expanded and improved. New movements and organizations have been formed to fight for other rights that have been denied some of these movements are Black Lives Matter movement and the L.G.B.T.Q. Both of these organizations fight for equality. King closes his epistle with a note of hope and optimism for America.

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Letter From Birmingham Jail

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In "Letter from Birmingham Jail," King argues that "[I]njustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" (87). What does King mean when he says this? What does he gain in making this particular argument?

King uses multiple persuasive appeals throughout the essay to support his argument. Identify examples of each kind of appeal used and explain why this appeal is likely to appeal to the particular audience for the essay.

Review the eight Alabama clergymen’s “A Call for Unity,” which is widely available online. To which portions of their essay does King respond? Do you find his responses to be effective? Explain why or why not.

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Pathos In Letter From The Birmingham Jail Argumentative Essay Examples

Type of paper: Argumentative Essay

Topic: Supreme Court , Police , Crime , Terrorism , Public Relations , Law , Martin Luther King , Emotions

Words: 1600

Published: 12/02/2019

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“Letter from Birmingham Jail” is a famous open letter written by Martin Luther King, Jr., in 1963. After he was arrested for participating a nonviolent protest in Birmingham, Alabama as part of the Civil Rights Movement, he wrote this letter to address several concerns he had about the concepts of racial segregation and the ideas of racism present in America at the time, particularly the South. It was published in various newspapers and magazines thereafter, and in his book Why We Can’t Wait.

The primary point of the letter was to respond to the “Call for Unity” that white members of the church created in Alabama a few days earlier. In it, they stated that they were aware of the injustices that were present in society, but that the legal system was the place to fight that battle instead of taking it outside in the streets, against police and the rest of society. King was opposed to this, as he felt that everyone had a part to play in the presence of racism, and subsequently its abolition. The only way to be legitimately heard was by making the problem and the subsequent fight for a solution public; unjust laws needed to be disobeyed in order to portray moral responsibility.

In order to appeal to these clergymen, and subsequently whomever else read the letter, King opts to employ pathos in the writing of “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Pathos is an emotional appeal, and is one of the three modes of persuasion delineated in Aristotle’s Rhetoric. Pathos can be conveyed in many ways, but the primary two include metaphor and passion. When conveying pathos, the speaker or writer can use a metaphor or some other kind of hook to draw the reader in and allow them to connect the story being told to their own life. Furthermore, the speaker or writer can deliver their message with clear passion, showcasing intense and fervent emotion when dealing with the situation. This can make the audience much more sympathetic to the reader, as they can feel more emotionally invested. More than other methods of persuasion, this one is the most emotional – “persuasion may come through the hearers, when the speech stirs their emotions” (Aristotle, Rhetoric).

Pathos is used by Martin Luther King, Jr., to appeal to the audience of “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” connecting their religious loyalty and sense of honor to his campaign to end segregation and racism. King links the suffering of his people at the behest of the Birmingham police force to his audience’s praise at their actions, making them feel horrible for applauding such an act. Metaphors such as Biblical references and other such allusions appeal to their sense of Biblical loyalty by painting his crusade as similar to other righteous Biblical crusades, using pathos to play on their sympathies toward these religious figures. Furthermore, King’s use of emotional appeals of sympathy, and his humility in the presentation of his argument makes the audience feel guilty for opposing his position, and guilty for not coming to this righteous man’s simple request for aid sooner. King’s use of metaphor has the effect of putting his appeals in a more familiar perspective to the clergymen who are his audience; in the third paragraph, he compares his presence in Birmingham to the Biblical examples of “the prophets of the eighth century BC [who] left their villages and carried their ‘thus saith the Lord’ far beyond the boundaries of their home towns, and just as the Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the Greco-Roman world” (King, 1963). This example is meant to connect his actions with righteous actions portrayed in the Bible; it is an example of pathos as it appeals to their emotions and links what he is doing to actions that they could not question or look down upon. As a result, his actions become righteous as well. To the claims that he is an extremist, King later relates himself with other extremist Biblical figures, such as Amos, Paul and Martin Luther. He then transitions smoothly to real and recent figures, like Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson. All of these individuals performed extreme actions for the sake of the greater good; since they are lauded as heroes, especially by these clergymen, there is no reason to look down upon King’s similarly righteous, but extreme actions. Given their status as extremists, he puts the emotional burden on the audience to determine how their energy will be spent - “So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be” (King, 1963). King’s use of emotional appeal is rampant throughout the letter, appealing to their sense of justice and duty as well as their humanity. He uses rampant examples to relate to the audience (namely, the clergymen who wrote “A Call for Unity”); the second paragraph touts his professional affiliations to the church, noting his many accomplishments and the size of his church. What’s more, he calmly states that he was there at the behest of his affiliate in Birmingham, shifting the responsibility for the demonstration off his shoulders – he was merely asked to be there. In the fourth paragraph, King says that all states are interrelated – “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (King, 1963). This is meant to combat his alleged status as an ‘outside agitator’ who brought chaos and upheaval to Birmingham; his fight is rightly his, and so it should be with everyone, including the clergymen involve. King then lays the responsibility of fighting racism directly on them as well with an emotional appeal: “I am sure that none of you would want to rest content with the superficial kind of social analysis that deals merely with effects and does not grapple with underlying causes” (King, 1963). By linking their inaction with a lack of investigating social injustice, he is spurring them to action, as they do not want to perceive themselves as being cowardly or uncaring toward the needs of their fellow man. The plight of the Negro is emphasized through descriptive language in King’s letter. In response to their statement lauding the police restoration of peace, he states that he doubts that “you would have so warmly commended the police force if you had seen its dogs sinking their teeth into unarmed, nonviolent Negroes….if you were to watch them push and curse old Negro women and young Negro girls,” as well as hit innocent Negro men and refuse everyone food. By describing in detail these terrible acts, and by characterizing the Negroes involved as weak (citing old and young Negroes of both genders, not strong men and women), he makes it a bad thing to support the police who stopped the demonstration (King, 1963). His primary reason for rejecting the idea of settling the issue of the court system in racism is the moral and emotional appeal to fight injustice wherever it may be. King states that “an unjust law is no law at all,” citing St. Augustine, another Biblical figure, to lend himself credence. Since the laws of segregation “degrade human personality,” they are unjust, and must be disobeyed. King’s delivery of his main points is often peppered with apologetic, humble language, stating that he had never written a letter this long before and that he laments taking up the ‘precious time’ of the audience – “If I have said anything in this letter that overstates the truth and indicates an unreasonable impatience, I beg you to forgive me” (King, 1963). This showcases how humble and polite King is, and it underlines the importance of the struggle – this action is perceived by King to be so out of the ordinary and disruptive that there must surely be a good reason for it. He would not bother the clergymen unless it was this vital to the safety and freedom of his people, and of great concern for every man and woman. By coming from a friendly stance, and not a confrontational one, the responsibility falls to the clergymen to say ‘no’ if they so desire. King wished to present his case as eloquently and friendly as possible, as he seeks for them to be allies in his cause. “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” (King, 1963).

In conclusion, Martin Luther King uses many elements of pathos in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” in order to convince the clergymen who wrote “A Call for Unity” that what he did was righteous, and that injustices must be fought wherever they may be found, instead of merely in the courts. Metaphors link his cause to other righteous causes normally celebrated by his audience, so as to link them together and make their cause more sympathetic. Emotional appeals, such as his insistence that he is taking up their time and remaining humble and apologetic during his letter makes him less confrontational, and therefore less easy to ignore. In addition to that, his detailed descriptions of the hardships that occurred at the hands of the people his audience celebrated makes it harder to support them in the long run.

Works Cited

Aristotle. Rhetoric. [1st Modern Library ed. New York: Modern Library, 1954. Print. King, Martin Luther. Letter from Birmingham city jail. Birmingham: American Friends Service Committee, 1963. Print.

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Home / Essay Samples / Social Issues / Racism / Letter From Birmingham Jail

Letter from Birmingham Jail Essay Examples

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