Rhetorical Devices In Letter From Birmingham Jail

In 1963, eight Alabama clergymen issued a seemingly hypocritical public statement accusing outsiders of leading extreme demonstrations of protest in Birmingham, Alabama, and urging local citizens to allow racial issues to be resolved by the courts. In response, civil rights activist, Martin Luther King Jr., wrote “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” which outlined the reasoning and timing of the demonstrative actions. While King’s letter exhibits an effective use of all three Aristotelian rhetorical appeals, the following analysis focuses primarily on his use of logos. His inclusion of analogies along with descriptive diction assists in emphasizing his reasoning in an attempt to logically convince his readers that waiting for the courts to settle racial injustices had proved inefficient.

What are rhetorical devices? How can they be used? Martin Luther King Jr. numerous rhetorical devices in the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” writing to clergymen who wrote a public letter calling King’s actions “unwise and untimely” and telling him to “wait.” Despite Martin Luther King Jr. using many rhetorical devices in his letter, ethos and anaphora are the most powerful, for they increase credibility and create rhythm and urgency. MLK uses ethos by letting the readers (clergymen) understand his educational status and his role as a religious leader.

As a leader of civil rights activist, Martin Luther King wrote a letter in response to the Alabama clergymen called, “Letter to Birmingham Jail” to discuss and present different tactics to end racial discrimination. The clergymen respect King’s ideas, however they were hesitant about his tactics because they believe in the end it will turn out to be violent. King understands why they might be unsure about his tactics but does not approve in what the clergymen labeled his strategies is one of an “extremist”. In order to bring his explanations across he uses rhetorical strategies to help achieve what he is trying to convince the clergymen of the idea of being an extremist. Logos is one of the rhetorical devices King uses to support his opinion.

The “Letter from Birmingham Jail” written by Martin Luther King Jr. addresses the criticisms of his fellow clergymen and makes them feel ashamed toward their viewpoints and actions of African Americans and racial segregation. By using various rhetorical strategies, primarily the appeal to unity and various allusions, to influence the clergymen to join his fight against racial injustice. King uses “Fellow Clergymen” as his greeting in order to create a sense of unity and create a comradery based pathway to express his message. Being a clergyman himself he uses it specifically in order target the white clergyman audience, but also opens it for the rest of America to express his message of anti-segregation. This allows a respectful greeting of

The most noticeable form of persuasion Dr.King uses is Logos. In the beginning of the letter Dr.King gives his reasoning for being in Birmingham to protest and why he is in jail. He states: “Just as the eight–century prophets left their little villages and carried their ‘thus saith the Lord’ far beyond the boundaries of their hometowns; and just as the Apostle Paul left his little village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to practically every hamlet and city of the Greco-Roman world, I too am compelled to carry the gospel of the freedom beyond my particular hometown.” (14-17) Stated by Dr.King. He is trying to say that his goal isn't to cause chaos rather to spread the idea of freedom.

Birmingham City Jail “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”(King 582). Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Civil Rights activist and clergyman, who was arrested in 1963. King was arguing that the citizens of a nation are interconnected and that it is wrong to accept justice in some locations, but injustice in others. King was put in jail because he and others were protesting the treatment of blacks in Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. King uses ethos, logos and pathos to show the criticism, logic and emotions in his story.

Over the course of history, few have demonstrated the talent and passion required to really inspire others with the simplest- yet perhaps deadliest- tool in the human arsenal: words. Great orators are known by name in the common household for the way they moved people: Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, and even those who live in infamy like Adolf Hitler. This Monday, the 15th of January, America will be celebrating one of the most revered orators in American history, Martin Luther King Jr., tireless crusader for the cause of human rights. King knew what he stood for.

Martin Luther King Jr. Addresses his Critics In 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. responded to “eight local clergymen who questioned his methods” regarding a protest in Birmingham, Alabama (King 800). King was arrested for the protest, and while in jail he penned the response known as the Letter from Birmingham Jail. The clergymen claimed his protests were “unwise and timely” (King 800). King confronts their criticism by demonstrating what justice and injustice is.

Really what is the difference between “I have a dream” and His famous “Letter Birmingham Jail”?The “I Have a Dream” speech spoken and written by The MLK Jr. himself to be read in front of a quarter of a million justice hungary both Black and White in front of the Lincoln Memorial in the largest racial justice demonstration in U.S history. On the other hand the letter from Birmingham jail written to try and explain himself to a group of 8 white clergymen. Written in a small cell in the tiny margins of a newspaper. I believe the difference is whilst in the speech he was trying to rouse the emotions of a quarter million people and lift their heavy hearts in his letter he is calmly trying to explain his beliefs to a group of what he believes is intelligent capable men.

¨Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”(King 582). Martin Luther King Jr was a civil rights activist who fought for civil rights; he wrote to eight white clergymen in jail. King got arrested for fighting for African American rights. King was very passionate and emotional about civil rights. Martin Luther King Jr. suggested the idea of people having a moral responsibility to infringe on unjust laws.

The right to protest is a basic human right guaranteed straight out of the U.S Constitution. However, this right was infringed upon when the Birmingham police force used excessive force to quell a peaceful civil rights protest. Not only did they throw Martin Luther King Jr. in jail for protesting peacefully, but also his fellow clergymen applauded the actions of the Birmingham police force. Persuasive and Hopeful, Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham City Jail” letter urges the clergymen to change their opinion on the way the police acted, and also what he hopes the future will be like for African Americans in America. Through his use of tone, rhetorical appeals, and rhetorical tools, King Jr. attempts to sway the opinions of

While in solitary confinement for nearly 8 days, reverend and social justice activist, Martin Luther King Jr., wrote his famous Letter from Birmingham Jail in response to the criticism he received for his non-violent protests. Several clergy who negatively critiqued King’s approach of seeking justice, wrote A Call for Unity, arguing that his protests were senseless and improper. Within the article, the clergymen provide nine different critiques that asserted how King’s protest are invalid, uneffective, and simply unintelligent in the fight for obtaining justice and equity for individuals of color. His letter has become one of the most profound pieces of literature of the 20th century, as King uses vivid examples and eloquent rhetorical devices to counter all nine arguments.

In “A Letter From A Birmingham Jail” Martin Luther King Jr defends his use of nonviolent protest in order to accomplish racial equality. In the letter, Dr. King uses ethos, diction, and allusions when defending nonviolent protest which makes his argument really strong. His goal is to make the clergymen help him fight racial equality. He uses ethos to build up credibility.

In paragraphs 33 to 44 of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s response to “A Call for Unity,” a declaration by eight clergymen, “Letter from Birmingham Jail” (1963), he expresses that despite his love for the church, he is disappointed with its lack of action regarding the Civil Rights Movement. Through powerful, emotionally-loaded diction, syntax, and figurative language, King adopts a disheartened tone later shifts into a determined tone in order to express and reflect on his disappointment with the church’s inaction and his goals for the future. King begins this section by bluntly stating that he is “greatly disappointed” (33) with the church, though he “will remain true to it as long as the cord of life shall lengthen” (33). By appealing to ethos and informing the audience of his history with the church, he indicates that he is not criticizing the church for his own sake, but for the good of the church.

Martin Luther King wrote the “Letter From Birmingham Jail” and the “I Have a Dream” speech in the midst of segregation to speak against racial injustice. The letter was written while he spent his time at Birmingham Jail pondering on things. He delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech during the March on Washington. In general, King often incorporates rhetorical devices to prove his points and give his pieces greater effects. The two pieces are similar because they use the same rhetorical devices to battle racial injustice.