Martin Luther King Letter From Birmingham Jail Summary

In King’s letter from Birmingham, he concludes his 50 paragraph letter by using specific rhetorical strategies in order to connect himself to the clergymen to whom he writes by shifting his tone from the disturbed and excited writing in the rest of the letter to one that is calm and composed toward his current situation in jail, and also by using more positive imagery and language. His attitude immediately changes in these closing three paragraphs in an attempt to assure the clergymen that he is reasonable in all his assertions, even asking for forgiveness for any over- or understated claims, apologizing for ever straying from the path of truth and patience, and he also asks “God to forgive [him]” (para. 49). After this last sentence of paragraph

King addresses one of the ongoing issue addressed from individuals from the opposite side of his movement, the consistent breaking of laws in the name of social justice. “You express a great deal of anxiety over our willingness to break laws. This is certainly a legitimate concern.” King acknowledges the complaints of the other side and then uses rhetoric to demonstrate an alternative side to the issue. “We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God-given rights.”

First of all, King used anologies to make his point. The clergymen call him an extremist, but he lists many respected people to counteract that comment. Like God “The others Jesus Christ, was an extremist for love, truth, and goddess and thereby, rose above his environment.” King includes this piece since the Clergymen are very religious people and they, too, follow God t .

One of the most important pieces of literature to exist in the Civil Rights era has helped future generations to come to understand the struggles of activists of the time period. This piece of history is “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” written by Martin Luther King, Jr., on April 16th 1963. He was jailed because he was protesting the treatments of Blacks. In the letter he uses different types of modes of persuasions. King uses authority, logic, and emotion in a “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” to convince white clergy during the Civil Rights Movement that his nonviolent actions are both timely and wise.

Once these rules were ingrained in their minds, then they could participate in the demonstrations in order to change the community around them for the better. Even though the problem of racial injustice will never be fixed, King believed that to accept passively the issues of an unjust system is to cooperate with the evil in that system (Colaiaco). In our communities today, we as Christians must do more than to accept the evil in them, but actively fight that evil for the greater

He explains how the Bible contains examples of civil disobedience to obtain change (King 335), and writes how early Christians were willing to face hungry lions and the excruciating pain of chopping blocks rather than submitting to certain unjust laws” (King 365). King showed the clergymen how it is justified and a part of Christianism to stand up against

MLK’s ultimate claim is that the church is to blame for these happenings and “the judgement of God is upon the Church as never before”(276). King stated how even the people who were in the church trying to fight for justice had been looked down upon and some had been kicked out of their own churches. King’s claims were passionately presented. He relentlessly provided evidence to prove his position on the issue of injustice and also showed ample amounts of examples to solve these problems.

King goes on to state, “Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.” This works because it gives these items something everyone can relate to or imagine. Like water, justice can be strong enough to change people. Justice is also natural and essential for people to thrive. And, finally, according to King, Justice is clear.

King attempts to set his points across to the clergymen in hopes they would understand his viewpoint. He does this by explaining how negotiation

Martin Luther King, Jr. attempts to persuade clergymen to follow in his civil rights movement through exhibiting his knowledge over just and unjust laws, displaying peaceful behavior, and empathetic diction. King was very knowledgeable about laws and his right as a human. King stated laws in his letter to the clergymen, which displayed his credibility. He did not only state laws, he also stated just and unjust laws. King stated, “How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?”

In 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. was sent to jail because of a peaceful protest, protesting treatments of blacks in Birmingham. Before the protest a court ordered that protests couldn’t be held in Birmingham. While being held in Birmingham, King wrote what came to be known as the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” Not even King himself could predict how much of an impact this letter would have on the Civil Rights Movement. In the letter kind defended Kings beliefs on Nonviolent Protests, King also counters the accusations of him breaking laws by categorizing segregation laws into just and unjust laws. King uses this principle to help persuade others to join him in his acts of civil disobedience.

Christian beliefs ultimately influenced his view on human nature. King believed that even though humans are wired to do evil and harm, God is trying to stop the evil from spreading. King said that if you have love for God and have trust and loyalty with him then God would guide you and keep you away from evil. “The Christian doctrine of love, operating

Civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr, in his Letter from Birmingham City Jail, argues against criticism from eight Alabama clergymen, and addresses their concerns. He defends his position, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), against accusations of disturbing the peace in Birmingham, as well as explaining his values and opinions. Throughout the letter, King adopts a strong logical and credible tone, and reinforces his position through the use of strong emotional justifications, in order to appeal to the clergymen and defend his public image. Martin Luther King opens up his Letter from Birmingham City Jail by appealing to the clergymen's emotions, and assuring his peaceful response, which he describes in "patient and

In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. led a peaceful movement in Birmingham, Alabama. The purpose of the demonstration was to bring awareness and end to racial disparity in Birmingham. Later that night, King and his followers were detained by city authorities. While in custody, King wrote the famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” This letter voiced out his disappointment in the criticisms, and oppositions that the general public and clergy peers obtained.

King believed that if he could just go to Birmingham, and protest non-violently, that he could make a difference. On April 16, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. was imprisoned, in Birmingham, for protesting the civil rights of Black Americans. While in jail, he began writing a letter addressing the clergymen. His main audience in writing this letter was to the eight clergymen who criticized his actions and also the majority of the population as well. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail”, argues that injustice