King utilizes several facts and statistics throughout his letter. He is a reverend from the south and it is his business to advocate against segregation. 467 students ordered this very topic and got In other words, King borrows from the ethos of these figures to gain credibility and legitimacy in front of his readers. Give us your paper requirements, choose a writer and well deliver the highest-quality essay! He compares the social situation with an elegy and the potential future to a creative psalm; racial injustice to quicksand, and the ultimate goal as a solid rock. Lastly, he argues that it doesnt matter how admirable the police are when they are maintaining the immoral end of racial injustice. Kings target audience was the white moderate but at the same time, his letter was renowned nationwide. Kimberly Bautista. original papers. Pay the writer only for a finished, plagiarism-free essay that meets all your requirements. The anaphora If you were to is meant to inspire his readers to emp. King references a dozen historical figures from Abraham Lincoln, to Paul of Tarsus, Socrates, to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and many more. Letter from Birmingham Jail, by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Logical Fallacies in Letter from Birmingham Jail, Policing and Community Relations in America, Rhetorical Analysis of The Letter of Birmingham Jail, A Rhetorical Analysis of the Letter from Birmingham Jail and Malala Yousafzais Speech, Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr, What does Kings Speech i have a Dream Mean. He explained how black Americans have waited over 300 years to acquire basic constitutional rights. He recognized that this was an effective way to bring further into the light the atrocities of racism and segregation. Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/rhetorical-analysis-of-the-letter-of-birmingham-jail/. These themes of injustice were the push for his plan of direct action as he states and supports each theme with clear and factual evidence. Letter from Birmingham Jail Literary Devices Analysis - Storyboard That King was in Birmingham Jail when he composed this response. The letter of Birmingham Jail was written by Martin Luther King on April 16, 1963. A "Letter from Birmingham Jail" Graphic Organizer - Prezi Hire a verified expert to write you a 100% Plagiarism-Free paper. MLK doesnt take time to justify these two groups of their rights and wrongs, but rather backs them up with facts that result in their actions. Kings most memorable, most effective arguments were those that relied on taking a deep look at inner human emotion. "Letter from Birmingham Jail": Examples of Rhetorical Devices 4.2 (5 reviews) logos Click the card to flip "We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God-given rights." Click the card to flip 1 / 32 Flashcards Learn Test Match Created by aedwards001 Teacher Terms in this set (32) logos Showing that he takes the cultural ideas of him and his followers very seriously and is there to fight for them. The prejudices of the white moderate who say they agree with the goal they seek of freedom but cannot agree with their methods of direct actions. 273284.. The text includes numerous instances when the writer uses descriptive and metaphorical language to make his arguments more dynamic and appealing. Martin Luther King also establishes ethos throughout his letter by outlining his own culture of religious ancestors and deliberating his own church leadership. He was leading a peaceful protest that lead to his arrest for not having a permit. As King states that just laws should be followed, and unjust laws should be openly disobeyed. The 1954 Supreme Court ruling that outlawed segregation in public schools was disobeyed. Even in closing, King says that his letter would have been much easier to compose, had he not been thrown in jail for peacefully protesting for the rights of people who he considers to be family. Hi! He analyzed his opponents statements put forth then picks it apart backing up each little part with his collection of facts. Negroes have experienced grossly unjust treatment in the courts. This puts it in perspective making it hard for the reader to refute. This essay is available online and might have been used by another student. He uses such intense words in this short sentence that really just leaves a picture in your mind. Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/letter-from-birmingham-jail-rhetorical-analysis/. Martin Luther King then backs up his view of just and unjust laws with many political figures who set laws that were made to be broken for the rights of the people that faced injustices. He said that he has watched his brothers and sisters be referred to as niggers and boys, be punched and kicked, lynched, burned, drowned, cursed, and brutalized. This piece incorporated a multitude of different techniques, which King synthesized into an extremely advanced message for the white moderate. He makes this statement to show he is not an outsider but presents himself as an insider, as he is the president of the conference. 2023 PapersOwl.com - All rights reserved. The pathos appeal was prevalent in Kings letter from beginning to end. King plays to the fact that it does not make sense to tell him to obey the law when the law was broken for an unjust cause; a cause in which he is fighting against. He continues these connections all throughout his letter to further justify his actions, stating if these large political figures have done it in the past to voice their opinion and be heard than whats any different than him doing the same. King made use of ethos, pathos, and logos in his letter; three powerful rhetorical devices that make various appeals to the target audience. This passage in the letter shows the clergymen the two different sides. That direct action was the only choice for negation as they were victims of broken promises by the courts and given no alternative choice. Letter from Birmingham Jail Rhetorical Analysis, This example was written and submitted by a fellow student. In Letter of Birmingham Jail MLK does just that. your personal assistant! Repetitions help the writer give structure to his arguments and highlight important aspects. Martin Luther Kings major claims in this letter are to bring forward the injustices that went on in Birmingham. Martian Luther King was also good at incorporating strong pathos into his letter. After Martin Luther King looked over the clergymens unjust propositions he efficiently constructed his counter argument as he directly started his letter my dear fellow clergymen. The Rhetorical Situation of Letter from Birmingham Jail However, establishing this credibility allows King to reach his target audience. MLK wrote the Letter from Birmingham Jail in response to an essay written by white clergymen. The best example of this appeal is when King explains the urgency behind his cause. (2021, Apr 23). King says having to explain to your six-year-old daughter why she cant go to the public amusement park, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told the fun town is closed to color children, and see ominous clouds of inferiority beginning to form in her little mental sky and see her beginning to distort her personality by developing an unconscious bitterness towards white people (King 275). The unfairness as they are seen as extremists, the activism of taking extreme measures, for their nonviolent direct-action protest just because they want the same freedom as whites. We have some eighty-five affiliated organizations across the south, and one of them is the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights (King 273). There have been more unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches in Birmingham than in any other city in the nation. Michelle Singh's art of inclusion with Prezi; Feb. 15, 2023 MLK wonders about the churches and why theyre not trying to help the black community in their struggle and support their movement, as Christians use to have moral and ethical power. Perhaps the most effective rhetorical device that King uses is pathos. Logically, the clergy could not refute the fact that there had been little to no change for the black community (members of their own community). He backs up each of the clergymens arguments with logical evidence to his stand point on the topic. Martin Luther King Jr. was a well known clergyman, turned affluent civil rights activists. Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide. I'm Amy, If you want a unique paper, order it from our professional writers. In another example, the writer associates himself with prophe. Analogies are comparisons through which the writer uses one event or person to describe another, creating associations for the readers. Martin Luther King first starts off his letter by using a strong ethos appeal, by establishing his credibility to the clergy men after they referenced him as an outsider coming in. He first addresses them by saying, My Dear Fellow Clergymen. By saying this MLK is considering him as one of them showing that he is no different and deserves the same respect as they would want to be given. All of these men went down in history as extraordinary individuals. Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+! Nevertheless, he was also a reverend, who was very patient, and well versed in the philosophy and execution of civil disobedience. aimed at creating associations for the readers and to add further emphasis to the writers views. Now is the time to lift our national policy from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of human dignity (King 279). He painted a picture of the violence they faced, the injustices, and brutality they had to endure. Letter from Birmingham City Jail - eNotes For any subject. His letter gives the philosophical foundations of the civil rights movement of the 1960s and does a good job by giving specific examples that appeal to logos, pathos, and ethos. Letter from Birmingham Jail Rhetorical Analysis - PapersOwl.com Each one of the arguments put onward by the clergymen MLK put down and refuted with facts that were undeniable. Ethos Convinces the audience that the speaker will be worth listening to and is a credible source. King mentions several disappointments over the course of his letter. These references are even more relevant because the letter is a reply to criticism coming from clergymen. Letter from Birmingham Jailby Martin Luther King Jr. includes a large volume of allusions and direct references that can be divided into several categories. Kings message would not be well received if he did not have his background. As King is just following the path of his ministerial ancestors. - Use specific language that is appropriate to the audience and topic (connect with audience) - Use correct grammar and syntax A law is unjust if it is inflicted on a minority that, as a result of being denied the right to vote, had no part in enacting or devising the law. The eight clergy men called his present activity unwise and untimely and stated that racial matters should be properly pursued in the courts and not the streets.