Rhetorical Analysis

Martin Luther King was one of the most powerful and inspirational leaders of the civil rights movement. In “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” King implements more than the idea that, segregation is wrong, but as an American society we should be unified as one. King reaches out to the “white moderate” and draws them in (St. Martins 806). Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” was an effective rhetorical tool in aiding the Negroes for equal justice in the American society.
Uniquely, King uses logos to correctly justify his standpoint and build his credibility. “In any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self-purification; and direct action. We have gone through all these steps in Birmingham.” King pronounces that he and his fellow Negroes have gone through the correct steps in order to recognize and defeat the injustice brought upon them (St. Martins 800).King uses nonviolent resistance to open the minds of his opponents to negotiation rather than to actually defeat them. He would rather have an alliance with them . King speaks of the policemen’s misguided treatment, vicious mobs, and the deal of anxiety that the white conglomerate expresses in fear of the fellow Negroes breaking the laws due to the injustice that has been dealt out to the Negroes themselves. He affirms that this is indeed a “legitimate concern” (St. Martins 806).He is quick to refute why breaking the law is just. There are simply “two types of laws” , King states “ Just and unjust(St. Martins 803).”
King is very aware that freedom is not given out and in order to receive freedom one must demand it (new republic n.p.).
In addition King uses pathos to pull in the inten...

... middle of paper ...

...e seed of equality.
In conclusion King successfully uses logos, pathos and ethos to draw the intended audience in. His use of Gospel of Freedom combines argument and action to defend his purpose in Birmingham ( newrepublic n.p.). By stating the facts he gives his fellow Negros ground to stand on and the white moderate a new way of thinking. By declaring that freedom is not free he recognizes the white perspective and their way of thinking. God plays a major role in Kings “Letter from Birmingham Jail” . God is the supreme power and the injustice that has been dealt with will be punished. His great use of personal pronouns draws the reader in and makes it a personal insult. King basically declares that all oppressed people swill eventually demand their “birthright freedom “(newrepublic n.p.). Kings letter was definitely an effective rhetorical tool for the Negroes.