Dr. King’s well-known “Letter from Birmingham Jail," was published in The Atlantic as "The Negro Is Your Brother," and was written on 12 of April, 1963 it was in response to a public statement of concern and caution issued by eight white religious leaders of the South. Dr. King and 58 men had marched down into downtown Birmingham to protest against racism and racial segregation laws of the Jim Crow era. As a result, they were all arrested and put into prison by the police. In his letter, Dr. King tells the clergymen that he is upset about their criticisms, and that he has a good reason for his actions. Dr. King emphasizes that there is a need for justice for the black race because they have been oppressed for a long time, and …show more content…
He was referring to the white American political community, white American religious community and the African American community. In his letter, Dr. King effectively uses different methods such as logical appeals, ethical appeals, and emotional values. Dr. King uses logos in the forms of reasoning, evidence, and definition in his letter to push his claims to the clergymen. Logos is a Greek word that refers to the use of logic and reasoning as an appeal. In his letter, Dr. King uses reasons to explain to the clergymen that the way the black people are being treated is very disheartening. Throughout his letter, he uses reasoning to point out that racism and segregation is unjust because have torn the country apart. Dr. King then states that the Declaration of Independence the true meaning was that everyman must be treated equally, but in the southern part of the country the blacks were treating the blacks poorly. He uses historical examples to bring his ideas to light. For example, In Letter from Birmingham …show more content…
King then uses the appeal known as pathos. Pathos is a Greek word meaning 'suffering ' or 'experience, ' and it appeals to the reader 's emotions, utilizing story, sensory-based details and vivid language. Throughout Dr King’s letter then showed how the African American they were suffering in the hands of the Whites. An a good example is “...when you suddenly find your tongue-twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six-year old daughter why she can’t go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children.”(844) Dr. King then used a child because he knew that child is a child no matter the color or race they are innocent of their crimes and nobody wants to see a child cry. Dr. King then went on to talk about the how the African American are been tormented each day and night. “…you spend night after night in your car because no motel will accept you. Day and night you are humiliated by nagging signs; when your first name is “nigger” and middle name is “boy”….(845). He described cruel behaviors of police towards blacks in jails. He said that, “Hate-filled policemen curse, kick and even kill your black brother and sisters and vast majority of twenty million Negro brothers smothering in an airtight cage of poverty” (844). He went further to explain that there is the need for change to happen. This is a clear
In the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” (Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail) written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. the three artistic appeals of Aristotle are plainly apparent, especially logos. Dr. King repeatedly appeals to logos (Ruszkiewicz) throughout the entire piece; particularly when he says he was initially disappointed at being categorized as an extremist then gradually gained a matter of satisfaction from the label. He is very impassioned in his language and tone in this part of the letter, yet still makes a strong argument for logic. Despite the overwhelming emotional and personal investment involved Dr. King still allows logic to prevail thus lending him a huge amount of credibility. As a member of the community being persecuted in this case, he might have had trouble remaining objective but clearly he doesn’t let his own pathos take center stage. All in all the use of logic and concise reasoning make a strong argument for the effectiveness of the letter in general.
Dr. King uses imagery in his writing that makes the audience visualize what he has seen. He knows that the white moderates have strong family values, so he reaches out to them by providing stories about children. There is one story about a little girl who has just seen an ad on television and when she asks her father if she can go, he has to look his daughter in the eye and tell her that ?Funtown is closed to colored children?(King 561). He then goes on to explain about how that forces that young child to grow up to feel inferior and to begin to hate because she has darker skin than the other children do. Then there is another story about the family taking a cross-country vacation and having to ??sleep night after night in the uncomfortable corners of your automobile?? because motels would not accept colored people (King 561). It ...
King continues to appeal to the emotion by individualizing the injustices suffered by many. He gives specifics of his young daughter crying and his son asking why white people treat him so poorly. These images work to evoke empathy for Kings cause and the civil rights movement.
In the letter to Birmingham jail, MLK uses pathos and the use of allusion to persuade readers on the value of civil disobedience. Dr. king often used the literary device of allusion, for example, when he mentioned the Holocaust, “We can never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was legal, and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was illegal” (King 2). What this quote means is that even though Hitler’s actions were justified, they were not kind or correct. On the other hand, the freedom fighters actions were outlawed even though they were good. King most likely alluded to this particular scenario because it was an obvious display of social vs. judicial righteousness. An example of when king used pathos in his letter
He uses many rhetorical devices proficiently to show that black people and other minorities can overcome segregation. Many African-Americans have been oppressed so much that it is only so much a person can take. They start to give up, but King encourages them that things will eventually change. Blacks have fought to the point where they probably do not have the energy anymore and are tired of waiting. King eventually explains that if they do not keep fighting for what they believe in, then this oppression will never get solved. He also says that the clergymen should recognize the black demonstrators of Birmingham and give them credit for what they have fought for. Not only black people, but white people too. King wants his people to have faith that a change will come, which is why this letter is so significant to society back then and society
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. changed America with his non-violent campaigns during the civil rights movement. Although his campaigns consisted of morally legal protests, speeches, and marches, he was still sentenced to jail on multiple occasions due to unjust laws. In King's “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” he addresses the issues and injustices in Alabama with his responses to his fellow clergymen. King’s letter effectively uses Aristotle’s strategies of ethos (credibility), logos (logic), and pathos (emotions) to convince his readers that he is on the right side of these racial issues.
King next admits his growing and continued frustration and disappointment with white moderates (and this would appear to include the clergy who wrote the letter). He now feels he needs to address them as what they profess to be “Brothers in Christ”. He points out the glaring disconnect (moderation) in their lack of acknowledgment that the “Negro is your brother”. All arguments and calls for acceptance from the clergy have centered on the made law and addressed in the manner of compliance to desegregation because it is now the law, but Dr. King states he had yet to hear anyone say, follow the law because it is the right and moral thing to do and because the Negro is your brother. This puts the argument squarely where it should be, on biblical terms. Dr. King closes with no malice, but an acknowledgement of the shared faith when he says “I hope this letter finds you strong in the faith” and that he hopes to someday meet with them as a fellow clergyman and a Christian brother. The “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, was a classic case of broken promises which lead Dr. King to apply pressure to a point of the other party so much so that they had no option but to sit down and come to a binding agreement. If this would have been violent instead of nonviolent, the outcome and the willingness to come together more than likely would not have
Martin Luther King Jr. uses pathos in the letter. At the beginning of this letter, King starts to appeal to the emotions of the reader. As he compares himself with the Apostle Paul, King states that he have to “carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own particular hometown” (204). Most people are motivated to adopt an opinion or course of action by appeals that work on an emotional level (606). He draws out the emotions of the readers. He ...
Dr. King through his letter addresses a maximal issue which is the injustice that Black community was enduring in Birmingham. He brilliantly used the three types of appeal, emotion, ethical, and logical to deliver his message and win the support of his audience. In a smart and well measured use of words he frequently uses the terms “us”, and “we”, as a successful tool to bring
King uses pathos to his advantage, making the common people feel bad about their actions. He does that by explaining the things that the blacks have gone through trying to gain equality. King is able to portray the anguish that blacks have gone though by saying that “the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality” King is making the people feel like the blacks have done nothing wrong and done nothing to deserve this hate. He says that even “our children” are feeling this hate as they “are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating: ‘For Whites Only’ ” In the iconic “I Have A Dream” section of King’s speech, the use of pathos is used very well. The whole idea of that section is that King has a dream. A dream that everyone will one day be equal. That his own kids will grow up and “not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character”. This is very personal. The entire section is based on personal dreams that King hopes and wishes to be
Specifically, King's letter addresses three important groups in the American society: the white American political community, white American religious community, and the black American society. King addressed these communities as the primary groups wherein racial segregation is continuously proliferated (the white American political and religious community) and points much of his arguments to and for his fellow black Americans in the society.
The police force treated the African Americans who were peacefully protesting in a very inhumane manor. He includes graphic images in his letter to prove that change needs to happen before more outbreaks occur. Overall, the words King uses to develop imagery, creates disturbing images for the reader. Although imagery achieves King’s purpose by rationalizing the way he approaches equality, the usage of rhetorical questions also allows King to get his point of equality across to the people. King utilizes rhetorical questions to show readers that he is trying to benefit everyone. Towards the end of the letter, King addresses the readers almost in a sarcastic tone. “…What else is there to do when you are alone for days in the dull monotony of a narrow jail cell other than write long letters, think strange thoughts, and pray long prayers?” (5). King is put into jail for peacefully protesting racial segregation. King shows that he cares by writing the letter to the American people and tries to get readers to feel ashamed. King exemplifies that being taken to jail for peacefully protesting on
Generally speaking, Dr. King reactions are long and nitty gritty, giving an exceptionally convincing and moving perspective. His letter is coordinated to his group of onlookers, which comprises of white working-class subjects who Dr. King alludes to as the 'white conservatives'. Dr. King’s letter is exceptionally powerful because his utilization of tenderness influences the gathering of people to think or envision themselves in the circumstance. It is exceptionally impactful of him to compose his letter thusly. He is in contact with the perspectives of his crowd, which has a more prominent effect on his peruses. Dr. King utilizes anecdotes to influence his peruses to see the foul play that would proceed if there were no progressions. It encourages
In 1963 on April 16th, Martin Luther King Jr, who was in the Birmingham jail for non-violent protesting wrote a letter in response to a statement from eight white Clergymen, in which they stated that his recent activities were “unwise and untimely.” In this letter King proceeds to state his purpose and reasons for his timing and his protests and powerfully he does so. He most obviously directs the letter to the Clergymen but there seems to be a many different audiences he wishes to enlighten on his thoughts. From what I gather he wants public figures and everyday men to read his letter, and by doing so he hopes to raise awareness for the cruel acts that have been done to the blacks. King gets his point across, that segregation is unfair and morally not right and that man has a responsibility to act against unjust laws, by using many different strategies throughout the letter. He uses logos, pathos, and ethos to do so. While using these devices he shows emotion, gives logic to his reasoning’s and gives credibility as well.
uses in the “letter” is logos to further communicate his argument to his audience. King states facts that no one wanted to bring up. He says “there have been more unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches in Birmingham than any other state”. This gives another reason he feels that he should be in Alabama rather than in Atlanta, so that he can address the violence against his people. This fact not only brings attention to it in a serious manner but in an emotional one. A bombing is not something to take lightly, a bombing is a tragic, horrible thing to happen to anyone and King hopes to get the reader to feel sadness and compassion for what is happening to other human beings. After that he still manages to explain how non-violent protests are the most ideal way to continue. By him being able to do that he showed every way, everyone of the clergy men were wrong. King then explains how the actions of the protestors were not “Untimely” but in fact pushed back multiple times in order to keep the attention on the real problem. “The election was a main contributor as to why the protest was postponed” stated King. Not only was it pushed back to after the election but it was pushed back to after the run- off so the people against it could not use the protest as a cover up story, the real problem would be the only thing they could talk about. Martin Luther King Jr. usage of logos show the actuality of what happened. It confirmed they had