Letter to Birmingham Jail Essay Example

based in Alabama. The group, with several affiliates, readily provides assistance upon request. On one such occasion, an organization in Birmingham sought their aid, leading to their involvement. It's the call for help and existing organizational ties that bring King to Birmingham as he explains, "I was invited here... I am here because I have organizational ties here". This argument makes a clear appeal to the audience's sense of ethics and rationality. The presence of a influential Christian leader in any society cannot be seen as detrimental.

King addresses his audience to relay the actual reason for his presence in Birmingham, the cause for the invitation, which is the existence of unfairness. He draws parallels to the Holy Bible, discussing examples of prophets disseminating the teachings of Jesus Christ, positing himself as a promoter of liberty beyond his native place. This Biblical allusion elicits emotions from his audience, predominantly clergymen, fostering comprehension and camaraderie towards King. He elaborates on the ways to gauge if any injustice abounds in an area, advocating for peaceful protest.

King points out that Birmingham's notorious brutality is well-recognized and expounds on particular episodes of violence against innocent Black individuals. This arouses empathy within the audience. He then transitions to a retort that might be made by his listeners; isn't negotiation a superior approach to change than peaceful protests? He clarifies that peaceful rallies and demonstrations facilitate negotiation by drawing the attention of those who had previously overlooked the issue. King goes on to liken this strategy to Socrates' approach of creating tension to stimulate people's thinking.

Despite contrary arguments, a valid reason always emerges to overshadow them,

effectively convincing the audience. As he likens it to Socrates's impact, he appeals to the rational mind of his audience - the disruption Socrates caused ultimately led to favorable results. Hence, why wouldn't applying the same approach yield similar positive outcomes? King then challenges the clergymen's claim that the protests were ill-timed. He refutes this by arguing that they had already endured a considerable wait and expecting patience for a new administration's establishment would be impractical.

King refers to a U.S. cleric and protestant Minister when stating that "collectives are typically more immoral than individuals", a sentiment that resonates with the religious leaders, who feel spiritually and ethically attached to faith and its followers. King invests considerable effort in asserting that divine civil rights are neglected in America, contrasting it with other countries where they are embraced. He reflects on instances where he had witnessed the horrific demises of innocent Black Americans and observed his own offspring reshape their identities, developing a sense of inferiority towards Caucasians. This poignant recount deeply pricks the sensibilities of King's listeners.

Commencing his detailed discussion on an integral aspect of the letter, Martin Luther King Jr. provides a response to those individuals who placed substantial emphasis on the activists' readiness to infringe upon laws. He draws upon references to numerous religious icons such as St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, Martin Buber, and Paul Tillich to make his audience comprehend that the actions taken by him and other participants in the Civil Rights Movement are comparable to those of esteemed historical figures. The word "let" introduces the ensuing two paragraphs where King delves into examples of equitable and

unjust laws, and elucidates how these can be discerned.

King effectively utilizes the repetition of the term "let" and displays parallelism in the structure of two paragraphs to impart to clergymen that multiple angles exist in determining the justice or injustice of a law, providing the knowledge on whether it should be obeyed or defied. These paragraphs bear similarity as their underlying reasons bear resemblance. King subsequently pivots his attention to addressing the handling of unjust laws. His viewpoint asserts that he harbors no desire to transgress just laws or inspire others to do likewise, but emphasizes that civil disobedience is an essential tool for the achievement of civil rights deserved by African Americans.

King draws parallels between acts of civil disobedience and the actions of Christians under Roman rule, biblical figures, Socrates, and American revolutionaries at the Boston Tea Party. This constructs a sense of patriotism fused with collective emotional responses kindled through religious affiliation. King underscores the fact that it was deemed illegal to harbor a Jewish individual during Hitler's reign in Germany. This potently emphasizes his argument that unjust laws should not command obedience, thereby connecting deeply with his audience’s emotions and moral compass. As King outlines why he feels let down by the church, he often recurs to the phrase "I had hoped".

The reason behind this is his desire to show his eight devout listeners how the church has failed its followers and turned its back on them, a sentiment that causes these individuals, who also trust deeply in the church, to empathize with King and feel regret. The repeated use of the phrase by King

plays on their emotions. He then addresses the claim made by these men that peaceful protests incite violence. King, however, counters this argument logically, stating "Isn't it akin to blaming a robbery victim because his possession of money incited the act of theft?" He also makes references to both Socrates and Jesus.

These emotional and rational links compel the audience to comprehend King more precisely and recognize that a person seeking their liberty should not be condemned, but the entity that deprives them of it should be. King persistently employs emotional appeals in his letter as he reiterates his discontent with the church and the supposed "men of God" who authored the article. They criticized peaceful protests while praising those who oppress African-Americans.

Through his words, he elicits feelings of guilt in his audience, stirring their conscience due to their wrongdoing towards an innocent group of people. Near the end of his letter, King employs subtle irony stating, “Never before have I written so long a letter. I’m afraid it is much too long to take your precious time," which emphasizes the gravity of his prior points. His objective is for these men to regret their actions and comprehend that offering assistance, instead of oppressing the Civil Rights activists, would be a more useful employment of their time. With religion as his tool, he persists in stirring up his audience’s emotions.

Utilizing metaphors such as "the ominous clouds of racial bias" and "the thick mist of misunderstanding," King cements a disheartening perception on the current predicament. His aspiration is for "the dazzling constellations of love and unity" to illuminate the nation with

their sparkling splendor. King employs these metaphors to illustrate the potential positive transformations if prejudice and subjugation were eradicated from America. Lastly, he concludes his letter with, "Devotedly advocating for Peace and Brotherhood, Martin Luther King Jr." This closing sentiment once more taps into the emotions and reasoning of the men King addresses in his letter.

It's his intention for them to understand that his actions stem purely from virtuous and defensible motives. In the document “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King Jr harnesses deep emotional, ethical, and logical appeals aimed at the eight clergyman from Alabama he is addressing, supplemented by powerful references to elements that resonate with his audience. Employing metaphors alongside precise diction and syntax, King effectively communicates his view that segregation is unjust and there is a crucial need for the Civil Rights Movement to be embraced nationwide, particularly in Birmingham, Alabama.