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A letter from MLK with rhetorical devices
Mlk impact on civil rights movement
Make just and unjust laws
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MLK refers to the revolutionary time period of the united states when he says that freedom is never given by the oppressor. Also saying in his lifetime the word wait ment never and that countries in Asia and Africa were gaining their independence quicker than the blacks in America did, when the blacks demanded change all they got was the word wait.
This appeals to the frustration that a African American must have felt when he was being treated unfairly.
This section uses a lot of pahos using the example of the little girl asking why do the whites treat us so badly and the example of being given the first name of negro and the last of boy. Selection 6: paragraphs 14-15
MLK in these two paragraphs brings up the difference between a just law and an unjust law. Also that the colored people have been following the law just or unjust, while the others have broken laws. Then says that an unjust law should not be followed. Then MLK goes on to break down what is the definition of unjust law.
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This section relies on logos because it is on the decision of the citizen to decide to follow an unjust law or retaliate against it. Selection 7: paragraphs 16-19
MLK’s main point in this section of his letter he goes deeper into how a unjust law should be defined. He also tries to hold back on what he said about not following the laws because he said that it should only be done when laws are being used for segregation. He never said let's not obey all of the laws and start anchery.
This section appeals to making a wise decision because you have to think to yourself what are the unjust laws that I should not obey and what are the laws that I should obey because they are there for our protection.
This section relies on logos because it is on the decision of the citizen to decide to whether a law is just or
2) The cause must be just. This is jus ad bellum because you decide if
Clinton uses logos to support her ideas on how to run the country. Logos is the appeal of using logic to assist a statement
Dr. Martin Luther King addressed many topics in, “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. He answered all the issues that were aimed towards him in a very skillful and well thought out manner. These issues came from, “A Call For Unity”, which was a letter published by eight local clergymen expressing their feelings about what Dr. King was doing. One concern in particular that King did an outstanding job of confronting was that of the clergymen’s anxiety about him breaking the law. King addresses the question of, “How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?” by clarifying that there are just and unjust laws. He also goes on to explain the difference between the two, the effect of unjust laws on the people that they are aimed towards, as
Regulations have administrated human demeanor for hundreds of centuries, and in present-day, criminal laws are to standardize and occasionally preserve social order. By allocating which conducts are prohibited, they present comprehensible standards of actions, cautioning society about which actions will be or will not be held accountable for, depending on the degree of severity; it is also figurative in conveying a statement that the public objects to these particular deeds. The earliest identified account of written decrees dates back to the period of the Babylonian King Hammurabi, or what we now know today as Hammurabi’s Code, which instituted high principles of an individual’s actions and severe penalties to violators, inflicting consequences equivalent to that of their crimes. An additional early structure of written laws was the renowned Mosaic Law, like the Hammurabi’s Code, based on the rule of “an eye for an eye” (Realities and Challenges 99). The general public in the United States are directed by a great quantity of regulations from an array of foundations such as the federal, state, and local administrative institutes that concern everything from acquiring a license to drive to crime against person. Although the organization of laws in the U.S. is extensive, complex, and varied, it can, in fact, be more comprehensive when sorting American laws into two general groups: civil law and criminal law.
Martin Luther King Jr. is still remembered as one of the most prominent and important leaders and activist in the history of the United States. The letter in the text was written by Luther during his time in jail as he suffered and was punished like all great leaders who fight and stand up for themselves. The context of the fight and thought was long engrossed in his thinking because of the racial criticism he faced all his life because of his color. The black Americans and natives had long been living side by side with the Americans and for decades they had been subject to oppressions and cruelty along with hatred by the whites in America.
I agree with what MLK had to say. What stands out to me is how forgiving MLK was toward the whites.
When MLK was taken in to custody, he was charged with “parading without a permit”(King), which really means he was doing wrong because it was a parade against segregation. He was holding a peaceful protest on behalf of the people who did not have a voice for themselves, and he was going to stop at nothing to be heard. MLK, while in jail, was receiving criticizing letters from all over about his protest, he never responded to them until he came across one. Eight Alabama clergymen entitled, “A Call For Unity”, which explained that he should be fighting in courts only and not on the street, wrote the letter. When King writes back that taking direct action is the only way to achieve the true civil rights even if it goes against what is morally right.
MLK knows when to use certain examples that will appeal to his audience and make them believe the way he does. He uses Ethos effectively by using credible sources such as the Apostle Paul to say that he has the right to promote freedom for all races. He uses Pathos effectively by painting a great picture to show the harsh conditions of Birmingham jails. He also uses Logos effectively by proving that segregation is a sin, therefore his actions are completely necessary. The most effective literary device that MLK uses is Logos because he shows that separation is a sin and that using time wisely and correctly can result in a more positive outcome. MLK’s letter shows that he will continue protesting until the law is changed because he is passionate about his cause and believes that he is
Throughout its history, the United States of America has been faced with the question of just versus unjust concerning its laws and Supreme Court decisions, as they reflect the legal standards by which people are governed. Unjust decisions can result in an injustice by prohibiting conduct that should be permitted and encroach upon the citizen’s rights. The Supreme Court of the United States is considered to be the law of the land and the decisions it makes must be obeyed. However, the Supreme Court decisions, despite being the law of the land, can be unjust as they reflect on the common sense ideologies of the time and include the final say of the majority. The ruling made in Minersville School District v. Gobitis in 1940 was unjust because it was in violation of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and because it reflected ideologies of the majority and neglected the opinions of the minority. This decision can be negated by making the flag salute a choice that does not encroach upon an individual’s First Amendment rights.
Martin Luther King Jr. is known for his use of religion to justify actions, with this letter as a prime example. He believes that the morality of laws should be put into question to see if they are just, where the measurement of morality comes from an inner scale that is balanced by religion. Martin Luther King Jr. was a revolutionary, inciting nonviolent change in America through government protests, not conforming to the rules and norms has set for him to accept his poor condition in life. He says, “...segregation is not only politically, economically, and sociologically unsound, it is morally wrong and sinful.” Therefore, he believes that the government’s rule is not legitimate unless it follows his perception of what is just, which is fueled by religious beliefs. This causes independent action because he senses a problem in life, and feels like he must serve a greater purpose to be able to solve
MLK depicted gruesome imagery throughout his letter in order to force the white clergymen to feel the Negros pain. For instance, he mentions how Negros have tried many times to negotiate, and were left with ‘Broken promises, blasted hopes.’(King) Whites had always told the Negros to wait, that their segregation will end eventually. MLK describes the word ‘wait’ as it “rings in the ear of every Negro with a piercing familiarity,” (King), “It’s easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say ‘wait’.”(King) MLK’s choice of poignant wording to describe the Negros pain and suffering is effectively what helps deliver those feelings onto the white clergymen. While gruesome imagery is placed throughout his letter, MLK also dedicates an entire section of his letter solely to gain their understanding. “When you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters with impunity; when you see the vast majority of your twenty million Negro
Although both of these activists have different solutions and deliver things differently, they both address racism and the injustice the U.S. government performs on daily basis. In addition to this, they are both African Americans who persuading different audiences but are delivering the same content. In MLK’s letter he responds to his clergymen’s criticisms by addressing the racial injustices in Birmingham; while Malcolm X is delivery the same content but his audiences are blacks and whites. Even though they are both striving to declare freedom and are willing to fight for their human rights, MLK is more effective than Malcolm X in fighting against racial
The theme throughout the two poems "A Black Man Talks of Reaping" and "From the Dark Tower" is the idea that African American live in an unjust
In 1963 Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote “The Letter from Birmingham Jail” in which he lays out what exactly encouraged his leadership. King was arrested while peacefully protesting against segregation in Birmingham, Alabama. His letter was a response to a statement called “A Call for Unity,” written by white clergymen of Birmingham. He was simply defending his practice of nonviolent resistance and carrying out the practice of civil disobedience. The problem at hand was obviously segregation. King argues that people have a moral responsibility to go against unjust laws. King reveals this position through his language. He uses repetition
rules of the state and the rules of man. It is unfortunate that these two forces must be in