What Is Mlk Letter To Birmingham Jail Argument

Dr. Martin Luther King letter was a statement on why the city is trying to change the segregation laws. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an activist leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement and apart of Southern Leadership Council. Dr. King “Letter from Birmingham Jail” composed this writing which is known as the most important writing during the civil rights period. This letter aided the movement’s trials and tribulations that were endured by the negro community on their fight for equality. Dr. King speaks out about his plan of nonviolent approach to settle racial conflicts among the community. Detailing each rhetorical device in this letter, Dr. King’s work became a crucial element in projection to end segregation.

I think Martin Luther King(MLK), JR.’s letter relates to the civil rights timeline by in MLK’s letter he refers to 1954’s timeline. An example is “Since we so diligently urge people to obey the supreme court's decision of 1954 outlawing segregation in public schools, at first glance it may seem rather paradoxical for us consciously to break laws.” This shows that he did talk about 1954’s timeline. His letter influences the events because in the timeline 1964 it states “Congress passes the civil rights act, declaring discrimination based on race illegal.” And in 1965 “A march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, leads to the signing of a new voting rights act.” This shows that MLK’s letter had an effect on the events in the timeline.

In his "Letter," Martin Luther King Jr.'s ability to effectively use pathos, or to appeal to the emotions of his audiences, is evident in a variety of places. More particularly in paragraph fourteen, King demonstrates his ability to inspire his fellow civil rights activists, invoke empathy in the hearts of white moderates, and create compassion in the minds of the eight clergyman to which the "Letter" is directed.

On April 16th ,1963, MLK wrote his well-known “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” in order to address that if you believed in something, which was equality at that time, then you have a moral obligation to do something about it. If one does nothing about the problem, then you are part of the problem itself. This important message striked the “Negro community with no alternative” other than to fight for their rights as citizens and human beings. Nevertheless, many believed that because MLK was not from the City of Birmingham he possessed no rights to protest; however, MLK proved himself qualified by stating that as the president of SCLC and similarities between him and apostle Paul, he had a moral duty to fight the injustices of discrimination

Written by Martin Luther King Jr., the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is a paragon of persuasive writing that takes advantage of ethos, pathos, and logos in order to convince its readers to take MLK’s side during the American civil rights movement. The use of ethos defines MLK as a credible writer; the use of pathos appeals to his audience on a personal level; and the use of logos layers his arguments and claims with irrefutable reasoning and logic. By using all three techniques, MLK is able to hold the attention of his readers and persuade them to take his side in the battle against segregation.

MLK Jr’s letter is intended to reach the white people, who he was discriminated from. MLK Jr. is showing how it is like living life while being discriminated by writing the letter from Birmingham Jail. He wants to show how the discriminated people are feeling and being treated. If it reaches the white people, they might understand how it is like to be treated unfairly.

On April 3rd, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr began the Birmingham Campaign. This was a nonviolent campaign which consisted of coordinated marches and sit-ins against racism and racial segregation in Birmingham, Alabama. MLK Jr was arrested because of this campaign on April 12th. On the same day that MLK was arrested he received a newspaper from an ally of his, this newspaper had an article about a statement from 8 white clergymen. The statement made by this men said that MLK and his methods were wrong which then provoked King to respond.

In MLK's letter to the eight clergymen from Alabama, he focus on addressing the fact that the clergyman believe “his present activities are unwise and untimely”. MLK begin the letter by stating all his credentials which show that he is educated enough in the matter to further along the cause of ending the the segregation. His purpose while not evident in the first paragraph of his letter is seen later on when he states “ I am in Birmingham because injustice is here” ( Do I have to cite the letter) and then again when he says “ injustice anywhere is a threat to injustice everywhere” (CITE). His purpose in the letter is to rebut not only the eight clergymen, but also white men as a whole. While his letter does not urge the clergyman to pick a side with or againsts the civil right activist but more like he explains the need for direct action which you can see when he says “the purpose of our direct-action program is to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation”.

I truly admire Martin Luther King Jr. not only as a person who fought for human rights but as a creator of the best and the most powerful letters I have ever read in my life. The fact Dr. King wrote it sitting in roach-infested, Birmingham jail gives him a huge appreciation. He annihilated racial segregation and created a powerful message which we excite and quote nowadays.

The civil rights movement was a very important part of not only the United States but also the 20th century in general. Even today many people believe that the civil rights movement is still going on. The bravery of men and woman during this period in the 1960s; some important figures included Martin Luther king Jr., John Lewis, Malcolm X, Bayard Rustin and Angela Davis. The letter from a Birmingham jail by MLK, Malcolm X’s The black Revolution, and Angela Davis’s I am a Revolutionary Black Woman are very important pieces of the civil rights movement in the united states for many reasons. The letter by MLK was created to response to criticism to the eight clergy man. The black revolution was a speech made to persuade the audience to follow Muslim. Angela Davis’s piece also was one of controversy, not only was she black and a woman but she was also a communist.

One evening in jail, a young man by the name of Martin luther king jr, received a letter outlining the the concerns of eight clergymen in reference to the demonstrations taking place of which he was a clergyman to. Martin was always aware of the criticism and retaliation of other and learn to keep order with it. But for some reason, this letter struck him, and he decided he must write a response to this letter. MLK being one of the most influential people in the world today, wrote a response letter to the right clergymen highlighting the concerns of being an outsider, having untimely and unwise demonstrations, and having extreme ideas.

The letter here seems to serve several purposes. First, it is consistent with his ultimate goal of justifying his case as in the name of justice. He does not want to confirm the deeply selected fear of his audience - that the black movement is an extremist set that will engender violence. Thus, by using restraint, he receives a sympathetic hearing, to which he then declares his proud embrace of extremism and tension. There are times when he distinguishes himself and his reason from this of his opponents, especially in terms of race. Nevertheless, it mostly says that all people are responsible for everyone in this world, an idea that would not be as effective if the tone of the argument was too fiery and confrontational.

By 1963, when Martin Luther King planned a campaign against segregation in Birmingham, Alabama. During the demonstration he was arrested and lives in the jail for eight days. While he was in prison, he wrote his "letter from Birmingham Jail" to explain his actions and those who urged him to call off the demonstrations. Martin Luther King Jr. Birmingham Jail is important because, he explains the reasons for the non-violent demonstrations, he shows that black people are intelligent, and he criticizes the unjust laws of black people.

Martin Luther King in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” argues that “a just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law” (110). King believes that God creates man in his own image, and for that reason King dedicated his life to fight for the equality of all American, and for the civil rights. According to King unfair laws have never had any presence of a single gain in civil rights without legal determination or nonviolent pressure. The support of some laws causes people much displeasure with the constitutional law surrounding abortion. King states the four stages of protesting injustices to black people, which were: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist, negotiation, self-purification, and direct action. These same principles should be applied to protect the babies that have no voice simply because the baby has yet to be born. Anti-abortion protests has been effective because protesters have influenced changes in some state laws which also has created awareness on the topic and has even get more people saying the unborn is a baby instead of a fetus.

Martin Luther King’s inspiration for writing his, “Letter from Birmingham Jail” was mainly to appeal to an undeniable injustice that occurred during his time. His letter was in response tos eight white clergymen, who objected to King protesting in Birmingham. Dr. King effectively crafted his counterargument after analyzing the clergymen’s unjust proposals and then he was able to present his rebuttal. Dr. King effectively formed his counterargument by first directly addressing his audience, the clergymen and then using logos, pathos and egos to present his own perspective on his opponent’s statements.