Letter From Birmingham Jail

What do you think the author’s thesis, or main argument is, and why? Be sure to put his thesis in your own words.

The 1960’s was a sad time when segregation existed. Although the colored people were technically free, were they really free? This time in history was filled with colored people being disgraced, threatened, held in captivity, and “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 sister” (King). Children ripped apart from their families, not being able to socialize with certain people, or even go to the local amusement park. It was a hard time to be a colored person, and there was one hope. Martin Luther King, Jr. believed that one day blacks and whites could one day come together peacefully. King tried to do what he believed was right with everything in his will to finally join forces and not be talked down on by whites. In the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” he includes several events that affect not only him but thousands of others emotionally, he uses creative examples to get his points across, and lastly King includes multiple past and present historical facts.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a key figure in the civil rights movements that took place in the 1950s and 1960s. The “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” is an open letter written by King defending nonviolent resistance against racism. The letter argued that people have a moral responsibility to break unjust and unethical laws. The letter also stresses themes of unity among brothers in order to overcome racism. I will argue in support of King’s stance that citizens are morally justified in breaking unjust laws and that openly and responsibly opposing unjust laws is itself a duty of every citizen.

Martin Luther King Junior was an American Baptist minister and activist who was a key leader in the Civil Rights Movement. King wrote and delivered many inspiring and moving speeches. In addition to speeches King wrote several letters including, “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” in which discussed the great injustices that were occurring towards the African American community in Birmingham. To justify his aspirations for racial justice and equality, Martin Luther King Junior uses the emotional, ethical and logical appeals. In this paper, I will be discussing the cause and effect of the significant excerpt, supporting my claims with textual evidence and will be providing commentary about the intended effect.

The civil rights movement has caused many issues for African Americans, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. writes “Letter From Birmingham Jail” as a response to the clergymen who share a different view with segregation. King placed his views from the idea that everyone is equal, rather than one is better because of their skin color. His letter from Birmingham jail shared many points, with the ending of segregation being the main goal. With his familiar clergymen with disagreements, he rebukes their letters with his take on the civil rights movement. His letter has an amazing pull from different views that unites America as one. Dr. King uses incites from the black community to share their side of segregation, while also presenting an argument using ethics, facts and emotion that establish his letter as unique.

On April 12, 1963, eight clergyman wrote an open letter, “A Call for Unity”. In this published letter, the clergyman expressed their strong disapproval of the civil rights demonstrations taking place in Birmingham, Alabama. Consequently, that same day, civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested for protesting without a permit. In his short eleven day jail sentence, Dr. King directly responded to the clergymen with a letter of his own. In his letter, Dr. King informed his readers about the protests in Birmingham. He explained why the protesters were civilly infringing racist laws and city ordinances; why the protesters had truth and justice; and how he was thwarted with the clergyman and white moderates in the South who said they supported his cause. In his “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, Dr. King incorporates biblical and historical allusions to defend the strategy of nonviolent resistance to racism. Dr. King’s allusions gave him credibility with his target audience, the clergymen. Additionally, Dr. King subtly asks rhetorical questions and logical conclusions to force his audience to consider his purpose.

The primary goal of a sermon in church is to convince or persuade the congregation to turn to God and follow his ways and beliefs. A sermon is commonly broken up into several subsections beginning with “(1) an introduction ‘to establish a common ground of religious feeling’; (2) ‘a statement of the text’ which is often drawn directly from the Bible; (3) the ‘body of the sermon,’ which consists of repeated emotional climaxes; and (4) the ‘conclusion’ which resolves the emotional tension aroused by the sermon by drawing the sinners to God.” (Pipes 143). Based on these characteristics and King’s religious background and experience as a preacher, it is logical to argue that the structure of “A Letter from the Birmingham Jail” resembles that of a sermon which is aimed at an audience much larger than that of just eight clergymen. Through his brilliant use of persuasive methods and emotional appeal, Martin Luther King turns a simple response to a letter into a national cause for white support to combat segregation.

Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham jail” is a mix of emotional passion and logical precision that seeks to achieve meaningful cause. The letter was a response to white clergy who were critical of his intention in Birmingham naming him an “outsider”. King’s response to critics through a letter explains his arguments vividly and effectively. King wrote the letter in a way that he agreed with his critics, nonetheless still using their words against them in logic harmony. King’s letter illustrates the three artistic proofs used to convince an audience. This paper will discuss the ethos, pathos, and logos modes of persuasion as well as writing structure as seen in King’s “The letter from Birmingham jail”.

Dr. martin Luther king writes a letter addressing his concerns on racism and civil rights in Birmingham jail. He sends it to multiple clergymen who had criticized his peaceful actions. The King emphasizes his dedication to non-violent protests and to not retaliate violently, if met with police resistance. The King addresses the difference between just and unjust laws. He said, people have a right to break unjust laws because it “degrades human personality” and there is a moral obligation to. The King was seen as an extremist and embraced being an extremist if the purpose is morally right. To show compelling evidence he showed famous people who were also considered “extremists.” He mentioned, Abraham Lincolns and Socrates were considered also

When he was arrested and jailed in Birmingham, Alabama he then fell under criticism by white clergy for coming to Birmingham as an “outsider” to cause trouble and increase tension through public sit-ins and marches. I feel that Martin Luther King was able to both set aside that criticism by establishing his credibility to have not only been invited to come to Birmingham to help end the injustice to the Negro people via peaceful means, but he was able to identify moral, legal and ethical cause to promote his quest to put a stop to what he identified as “the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States” (King, 2017, p, 3). I will provide a summary that will show what Martin Luther King believed were the cause of the injustice that he was striving to end to as well as his concern over the white community’s ability to make the Negro “wait for more than three hundred and forty years for our constitutional and God-given rights.”

Martin Luther King Jr’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” uses an emotional direct urgent tone, to explain his non-violence direct actions, and to address racial injustices. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote this letter in order to bring to light a big issue in Birmingham and the United States at the time. The “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” discusses the enormous amounts of racial injustices happening in Birmingham, Alabama toward the Black community. Racial injustice is the act of being unjust to a group or individual, based on race, specifically concerning legally identified rights. It includes inequality based on ethnicity or race in employment, voting, housing, and the administration of justice. About the criminal laws, it refers to conduct

The Civil Rights Movement in the 1950’s through 1960’s had many leaders, such as Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Malcom X and many more. But King was the only one who stood out of the pack. His purpose was to have equality for all races, not just African Americans. King had addressed a speech that he had written and spoke of it at the Lincoln memorial in Washington D.C on August 28, 1963. In King’s “I Have a Dream” he motivated and touched not only African Americans but white folks as well in the world and in the crowd. His speech delivers a powerful message during the Civil Rights Movements by using rhetorical devices of metaphor and allusion.

Martin Luther King Jr. was able to capture the attention of the entire country on the issue of racial injustice. His peaceful protests became a hallmark and example of how violence is not always the answer to gaining justice. His demonstration of his constitutional right of free speech paved the way to a more outspoken American public. His speech sparked a surge of civil disobedience for the sake of racial equality in the United States. In his speech, “I have a dream,” King uses symbolism through analogies and irony, articulation as well as referencing the relevant state of the country’s social and state cultures in order to deliver an empowering speech.

On the 8th of August in 1963, Martin Luther King, a civil rights activist, delivered one of the most famous speech of our time. In his “I Have a Dream” speech, King skillfully addresses the issue of civil rights and racial segregation. His main purpose is to raise awareness for this issue and work with the people, both white and black, to work towards change. He adopts a determined, passionate, and hopeful tone to connect to his audience, and for them to see that he wants a change as much as they do. Alluding to the “Gettysburg Address,” spoken by former US president, Abraham Lincoln, using metaphors to highlight contrasting concepts, anaphoras, and repetition, King expertly delivers a speech that

In his “I Have a Dream” (August 28, 1963) speech, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. asserts to his audience that they need to demand racial justice for African Americans and stand together for the rights afforded to all under the constitution. King skillfully uses four literary devices— anaphora, allusion, metaphor, and hyperbole—to create his pivotal speech. His masterful use of language and imagery is meant to inspire his audience to stand up for their beliefs to affect positive changes. Given the critical and inspirational tone of this speech, King’s powerful message speaks to the heart of all Americans striving for equal rights.