Mlk Jr.’S “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” - 1325 Words

MLK Jr.’s â€Å"Letter from a Birmingham Jail† While unaware of the impact this would have on the American people, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s â€Å"Letter from a Birmingham Jail† turned into an iconic piece of American history. King’s tremendous work as a civil rights activist through non-violent protest changed our day-to-day life, and his words captured the entire American population. King was persuasive due to his genuine nature and passion for his work, which is easily communicated in his writing. Specifically in the â€Å"Letter from a Birmingham Jail†, King’s use of logos, ethos and pathos portrays the detailed importance of his struggle and the importance for action from the American people. King’s letter starts off stating why he is writing:†¦show more content†¦King does an outstanding job in communicating the urgency of the situation without sounding personally impatient in his letter. His ability to create a s ound argument without emotion makes his â€Å"Letter from a Birmingham Jail† all the more provocative. However, that being said, King also does a great job of establishing pathos. Introducing his letter, King states that he is responding to claims made about his actions, showing that his letter has a direct action causing this response. He continually refers to himself as a religious man with a strong reputation in the church. King also shares an anecdote about his daughter, in which she questions why she cannot go to Funtown. Anyone reading this letter is immediately aware of the tension negroes face in their day-to-day life. A parent can’t imagine their child asking them this question, and those without children cannot imagine themselves asking it. King apologizes for the length of his letter, but also states that there’s not much else he can do from a jail cell. King’s letter portrays him as a hard-working man for justice in America, as well as a famil y man fighting for his individual rights. This extraordinary man appeals to all Americans, asking them to join him in the fight against injustice. This discourse King composed shows his excellent understanding of rhetoric fundamentals, as defined byShow MoreRelatedPathos in MLK Jr.s Letter from Birmingham Jail571 Words   |  3 PagesPathos in MLK, Jr.s Letter from Birmingham Jail    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. In response toRead MoreBirmingham Jail Functional Theory1638 Words   |  7 PagesLuther King Jr.’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail (1965) is important from both historical and sociological points of view. It is an example of self-sacrifice as in idea for the of equality of all people. Formally, King addresses this letter that he wrote while in Birmingham jail at the clergymen who opposed his protests. In fact, he applies it to everyone who approves of racism, and considers the methods of nonviolent struggle to be too radical and far fetched from achieving an actual goal. From a sociologicalRead MoreMartin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail Essay1266 Words   |  6 PagesPower Analysis: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail A statement from eight white clergymen from Alabama prompted Martin Luther King’s â€Å"Letter From Birmingham Jail†. This statement criticized Kings actions of non-violent protests against racial segregation and the injustice of unequal civil rights in America (Carpenter elt al.). The eight clergymen considered Birmingham to be â€Å"their† town and King was disrupting the â€Å"Law and Order and Common Sense† established in coping with racialRead MoreAnalysis Of Letter From Birmingham Jail1542 Words   |  7 Pagesto defend yourself? In â€Å"Letter From Birmingham Jail,† Martin Luther King, Jr. addresses fellow ministers’ criticisms on his movement by eloquently expressing his views on the fight to end segregation in an incredibly organized manner. He calmly and directly shoots back a compelling argument to those who question his authority to lead protests on the subject. Overall, King uses examples and accurate representations of his tory to show the need for change. MLK Jr.’s letter embodies the rightful cryRead MoreLetter From A Birmingham Jail By Martin Luther King Jr.920 Words   |  4 PagesIn his â€Å"Letter from a Birmingham Jail,† Martin Luther King Jr. makes appeals to ethos, logos, and pathos to convince the clergymen that colored people have been waiting for too long for political, economic, and social justice and freedom. He argues that it’s unfair to promise someone, or a group, for a change and not fulfill that promise. Along with demonetizing and/or belittling a person to the point where they don’t feel as important or as worth as they should; making them feel hatred and angerRead MoreLetter From Birmingham Jail By Dr. Martin Luther King1510 Words   |  7 PagesLetter from Birmingham Jail was a letter written by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from a solitary confinement cell in Birmingham, Alabama. Some portions of the letter were written and gradually smuggled out by King s lawyer on scraps of paper including, by some reports, rough jailhouse toilet paper. Violent racist terror against African Americans was so horrible in Birmingham in the summer of 1963 that the city was being referred to by some locals as â€Å"Bombingham†. King had been arrested while participatingRead More##jane Satrapis Persepolis And Letter From Birmingham Jail : Character Analysis871 Words   |  4 Pagesendangers yourself is the most admirable thing to do. This argument is demonstrated in both Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis and in Martin Luther King Jr.’s â€Å"Letter From Birmingham Jail†. King and Satrapi both honored their people by fighting for the oppressed, and working towards a government that recognizes rights for all. Both Persepolis and â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail† address government oppressing the dissenting minority, and how bravery, respect for others, and protecting minority opinions are the bestRead MoreEssay on The Life of Martin Luther King Jr.1244 Words   |  5 PagesLuther King, Jr. was born to Alberta and Martin Luther King. Alberta Williams King was born September 13, 1904 in Atlanta, Georgia. Martin Luther King, Sr. was born December 19, 1899 in Stockbridge, Georgia. Martins dad was a pastor at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. His mother was a school teacher. His siblings were Christine King Farris born September 11, 1927, and Alfred Daniel Williams King born July 30, 1930. Martin was the middle child. Martin Luther King Jr. was bornRead MoreLetter From A Birmingham Jail And Barack Obama s A More Perfect Union1304 Words   |  6 PagesKing Jr. s Letter from a Birmingham Jail and Barack Obama s A More Perfect Union, both leaders discussed many of the same issues. The big theme in both was about race in the United States and becoming a much more unified nation despite our race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, etc. Both of these leaders also touched on the fact that in order to solve the problems in this country, we must be unified and work together. One quote that really stood out to me in Letter of a Birmingham JailRead MoreRichard Wright s Letter From A Birmingham Jail1120 Words   |  5 Pagesviolence and hatred that can be stopped once everyone learns to respect and notice their differences. Although, this transformation does not seem to be as easy as it sounds. In this case, fear impacts equality and when fear prevents equality, people s’ opinions are not able to be heard, leading to discrimination and injustice. The fear of differing ideas and opinions makes it hard to reach independence and freedom because a negative mindset is preventing the transformation. Throughout history and