Rhetorical Analysis Of Letter From Birmingham Jail By Martin Luther King

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In the essay “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” written by Martin Luther King, Jr., the author writes about the Christian movement for Human Rights that he lead was reasonable and in good quality. In this essay, while King sits in a jail cell he responds to a statement written by a disbeliever of his Christian movement claiming that the movement was unwise and untimely. King goes on to explain how Black people were treated unfair and that the movement was not unwise and that it was conducting at just the right time. In this essay, I will discuss ways King used ethos to create a strong argument about this situation. In this essay, King uses ethos throughout the entire essay. Ethos is defined as “An appeal to the trustworthiness or credibility of …show more content…

He shows a lot of authority in the way he writes and speaks. King is trying to show everyone that he is well-educated and well-cultured. He shows strong leadership and well guidance to his fellow followers. “Some have asked, ‘Why didn’t you give the new administration time to act?’ The only answer that I can give inquiry is that new administration must be prodded about as much as the ongoing one before it acts. We will be sadly mistaken if we fed that election of Mr. Boutwell will bring the millennium to Birmingham.” (King 2) As King says “we will sadly be mistaken” he clarifies that he is speaking for all his followers and believers (King 2). King speaks on behave of his follow friends, group members, and believers. Also when King says, “The only answer that I can give inquiry is…” he shows hegemony because he is saying I. By him saying I can give inquiry, it shows that he does know what he is taking about and how he is well aware of the situation. Therefore, he can be trusted by others. “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntary given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” (King 2). In this statement, King allows us to understand and visualize the way it was for him and all African Americans. King takes matters into his own hands and deliberates the real way of life for them. He explains how most felt and how most had to gain respect for themselves. He explains that they have

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