A Response To Letter From The Birmingham Jail By Martin Luther King Jr.

970 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Dr martin luther king jr's letter from the birmingham jail

A Response to “Letter from the Birmingham Jail” Martin Luther King Jr. was an American baptist minister. He most famous for his dedicated work on the Civil Rights Movement. The letter I am responding to today is his world renown “Letter from the Birmingham Jail”. He wrote this letter during the peak of segregation in 1963. He had spent his entire life watching the world discriminate against colored men and women, and Martin Luther King Jr. finally had enough. Martin Luther King Jr was a participant in a non violent protest group, that would soon turn his life completely upside down. While in jail he felt the need to share his experience to the world, even if no one read it. That is when the “Letter from the Birmingham Jail” was born. Martin Luther King Jr. emphasized in his letter that he never once had any anger towards the clergymen, he just wanted to see change in the world. In the “Letter from the Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King Jr. responds to the allegation the clergymen stated in their letter titled “Letter from the Eight Clergymen”. In his letter, Martin Luther King Jr. …show more content…

did a great job at stating the concept of law breaking, and just and unjust laws. The clergyman start off by asking Martin Luther King Jr., why he promotes rule breaking. In my opinion the answer to this is simple. If you are encouraging the benefit of the country and lives, you may have to break some laws along the way. Martin Luther King Jr. states, “The answer is found in the fact that there are two types of laws: there are just laws, and there are unjust laws” (Paragraph 13). I strongly agree with this statement. If a law is threatening the life of a human being, no matter what the color of their skin may be, then it is unjust. On the other hand if the law benefits the human being, then the law is just . Overall I believe the reason why Martin Luther King Jr. was sent to Birmingham Jail was

Show More
Related

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Letter From Birmingham Jail

    718 Words  | 2 Pages

    In “Letter from Birmingham Jail” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. proves that he is well knowledgeable in the happenings in Birmingham. By providing a surplus of examples of events and details which he finds alarming, King was able to persuade the clergymen to like at the way the Negro community is being treated in the south using the appeal to logos, pathos and ethos. He displays his willingness to continue with respect and dignity, but because of the emotional ties that he has towards this cause, he will not remain inactive.

    Read More

  • Letter From Birmingham Jail By Dr. Martin Luther King

    1821 Words  | 4 Pages

    The letter from Birmingham jail by Dr. Marin Luther King was written as a response of King to nine criticisms made against the Southern Christian leaders and King’s participation in demonstration in Birmingham. King handled many rhetorical devices to convince his opponents such as the white clergymen with his rights to protest, create tension for direct action and to achieve the racial justice. The devices fluctuate between Logos, Pathos and Ethos in a clever way to appeal to his audience and criticize them at the same time. King provided logical supports such as biblical figures, historical and philosophical references. In addition, he used verities of metaphors, allergy and poetic language. In my essay, I will point out some of the rhetorical devices and

    Read More

  • Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter From A Birmingham Jail

    642 Words  | 2 Pages

    “…When you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim; when you have seen hate filled policemen curse, kick and even kill your black brothers and sisters…” –Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from a Birmingham Jail. Over the years, many groups of people have been denied basic human rights just based on simple things such as gender or race. These acts go against the UDHR, or the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The UDHR is a document of the equal and inalienable rights/freedoms all people are born with. One statement from the UDHR that was disregarded is the right to an equal education. An example from not too long ago is the story of Malala Yousafzai who was shot for trying to get an education because she is a girl. Article 26 of the UDHR states: “Everyone has the right to an education…”

    Read More

  • Letter From Birmingham Jail By Martin Luther King

    919 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ashley Sanchez 29659103 Analysis Essay Oppression is defined by the act of subjugating a people and state through means of force- a universal theme explored in both Hobson’s Choice by Harold Brighouse and Letter from Birmingham Jail written by Martin Luther King Jr (Webster). How can one achieve what they term as the ‘good life’ under oppression and is it necessarily worth the consequences that can result from said search? Hobson’s Choice explores the difficulty of finding a good life under the oppression of a father, and how that quest can result in a happier life. Letter from Birmingham Jail tackles a more defined term of subjugation and the danger of finding a ‘good life’ compared to safety and unhappiness under oppression. Ultimately, the search for a good life is derived from the struggle of rising above one’s oppressor, with the personal satisfaction of searching for the good life outweighing the consequences that may arise.

    Read More

  • A Letter From Birmingham Jail By Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

    658 Words  | 2 Pages

    After being arrested in downtown Birmingham on a Good Friday, Reverend Martian Luther King Jr. wrote his famous letter, “A Letter From Birmingham Jail” responding to the criticism demonstrated by eight prominent white clergymen. This letter has been found important through out history because it expresses King’s feelings towards the un-just event and it is an example of a well-written argument.

    Read More

  • Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr.

    1333 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Hence, segregation is not only politically, economically, and sociologically unsound, it is morally wrong and sinful.”… Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the greatest speakers in all of history wrote these words in his letter from Birmingham Jail (King 48). His great use of rhetoric affected largely the freeing of an entire race. During his work in the Civil Rights Movement, he visited a small town called Birmingham in Alabama, and wrote one of his most rhetorically compelling letters there. In this letter, he used historical evidence, scriptural references, descriptive vocabulary, and great organization of points to respond to grievances raised against his movement: that he should wait, that he was breaking laws, that his peace brought on violence, and that his activities were extreme.

    Read More

  • Martin Luther King Letter From Birmingham Jail Analysis

    1377 Words  | 3 Pages

    Dr. Martin Luther King addressed many topics in “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. He answered all the issues that were aimed at 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?”

    Read More

  • King's Letter From Birmingham Jail By Martin Luther King

    1595 Words  | 4 Pages

    Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail” was written to address the public criticism he and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference received from eight clergymen. In his letter, King shows off his fiery emotion throughout his letter. However, King does not force his beliefs upon his readers. Rather, he hopes that his readers will see his perspective on the situation through an emotional appeal. If the readers are able to recognize the injustice and inequality suffered by the African American community, perhaps they can. The fourteenth and fifteenth paragraphs were a true testament to his passion and ambition for equal rights.

    Read More

  • A Look at Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 'Letter From Birmingham City Jail'

    724 Words  | 2 Pages

    Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote an argumentative persuasive essay, the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” on April 16, 1963. King had written this letter to address and respond to the criticism made by the white clergymen. The letter was an approach to end racism and hatred in a non-violent manner. The non-violent movement was organized by King and his pro-black organization called “The Southern Christian Leadership Conference”.

    Read More

  • Is Martin Luther King's Response To Letter From Birmingham Jail

    629 Words  | 2 Pages

    Directions: Martin Luther King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail is the document in which he most clearly articulates his nonviolent direct action strategy.

    Read More

  • Mr. Luther King's Letter From Birmingham Jail

    408 Words  | 1 Pages

    "Martin Luther King Jr.'s letter from Birmingham Jail, which was written in April 16, 1963, is a passionate letter that addresses and responds to the issue and criticism that a group of white clergymen had thrown at him and his pro- black American organization about his and his organization's non- violent demonstrative actions against racial prejudice and injustice among black Americans in Birmingham.

    Read More

  • King's Refutation Toward the Clergymen

    1493 Words  | 3 Pages

    Martin Luther King, Jr. is known to be a civil rights activist, humanitarian, a father, and a clergyman. He is well known for fighting for the equal rights of colored people and ending discrimination. King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail is an important part of history that showed King’s opinion of a letter that he happened to read in the newspaper written by a group of clergyman. In this letter, the group of clergyman report that colored people, also known as black people, are being violent towards Birmingham City. Also, the clergymen believed the time that will allow segregation to be diminished was not happening anytime soon because it is not convenient. King refuted the clergymen’s argument in a variety of ways using tactics of argumentation and persuasion like appeal to emotion through real life examples, appeal to logic, and even articulating certain phrases through metaphors and word choice. Many of these different tactics of argumentation and persuasion made his letter very effective and is now seen as a great piece that is looked upon highly today.

    Read More

  • Letter from Birmingham Jail Analysis

    523 Words  | 2 Pages

    Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote his famous “A Letter from the Birmingham Jail” on April 16, 1963 while he was imprisoned in the Birmingham Jail for being involved in nonviolent protests against segregation. The letter is directed at eight white clergymen from Alabama who were very cynical and critical towards African Americans in one of their statements. Throughout the letter, King maintains an understanding yet persistent tone by arguing the points of the clergymen and providing answers to any counterarguments they may have. In the letter, King outlines the goals of his movement and says that he will fight racial inequality wherever it may be. Dr. King uses the appeal three main rhetorical devices – ethos, logos, and pathos – in order to firmly, yet politely, argue the clergymen on the injustices spoken of in their statement.

    Read More

  • Summary Of Martin Luther King Letter From Birmingham Jail

    739 Words  | 2 Pages

    In 1963, Martin Luther King wrote a response to clergymen who criticized his actions while he was stuck in the Birmingham city jail. This letter, titled “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, was written on the side of a newspaper and secretly taken out of jail by King’s lawyer. The goal of this letter was to address and confront concerns that were brought up in the clergymen’s letter titled, “A Call for Unity”. In “A Letter from Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King asserts a strong emotional appeal on the clergymen who oppose his actions by placing guilt on them when he inserts Biblical references periodically throughout his letter.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Letter From Birmingham Jail

    783 Words  | 2 Pages

    Martin Luther King, Jr. was a pastor, activist, and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. Mr. King was a man of honor and respect even in the troubling situations of serving jail time. People who were supposed to support him questioned his actions, Dr. King still stood by what he believed in. In Birmingham, Alabama Dr. King hoped that the white religious leaders will come to his aid but instead found reluctance and opposition. In the “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King, Jr. refutes his critics claims through the use of passionate tones, metaphors, and allusions.

    Read More

More about A Response To Letter From The Birmingham Jail By Martin Luther King Jr.

Open Document