Rhetorical Strategies In Letter From Birmingham Jail

Martin Luther King uses rhetorical strategies in his speech in order to do many things. These rhetorical strategies can be seen throughout the Letter from Birmingham City Jail by Dr. Marin Luther King Jr. The main purpose of this letter is to fight for freedom and end segregation between the Whites and the African Americans.King utilizes pronouns to include the audience to persuade his audience that as a nation we are all in this together. King says, “We will win our freedom because the sacred heritage of our nation and the eternal will of God are embodied in our echoing demands” (1). The purpose of this sentence is to make everyone come together. King claims that they will win because God is on their side. If they work hard enough they will also achieve what they are striving for. “We will reach the goal of freedom in Birmingham and all over the nation” (1) Kings purpose of this quote is to give his readers hope that change will come eventually. He will not just reach the goal of freedom, but the nation will reach the goal of freedom. Using pronouns to include the audience brings king and the readers together. Together they take a stand and become one. King utilizes repetition, which ingrains the problem in your head while making
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This quote exemplifies that if you would have seen what really happened that you would see differently. The purpose of this quote is to make you think something or feels something different than before you read the Letter from Birmingham City Jail. He directs the statement at you, which now makes you connected to this letter. The overall purpose of this letter is to give people an insight about segregation and to justify the rights of African Americans across the country. King’s tone moves the audience to see that the freedom and rights of the African Americans indeed