Martin Luther King Jr. wrote "Letter from Birmingham Jail" in response to his fellow white clergymen who criticized his actions that landed him in jail. He used Biblical examples to show that his nonviolent actions were necessary for African Americans to move forward in this country. This letter was mainly directed to those religious leaders who have the power to do something about segregation but don’t. The purpose is to hopefully get the backup from powerful religious leaders and end segregation
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Dylan Knox English 111 (Red) Mrs. Jones October 7‚ 2013 Essay #2 1.) Martin Luther King wrote “Letter from Birmingham Jail” from a jail cell in Alabama in April of 1963‚ hence the title. He was arrested for leading a non-violent protest against the discriminatory Jim Crow laws. These laws separated facilities between Blacks and Whites such as restaurants‚ schools‚ lodging‚ public facilities and many more. The Jim Crow laws brought about one of the famous staples of racial oppression in America
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1 Jenny Lum 10/10/14 Period 1 "Letter From Birmingham Jail" Essay Response Martin Luther King Jr. wrote in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” claiming “Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection”. This was the view King had on white people who supported racial equality but initiated no action pertaining to it. Through previous experiences in my life
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In this letter‚ addressed to eight “fellow clergymen” from Alabama who collectively published a letter of criticism in a newspaper on the handling of protests by King and his cohorts in Birmingham‚ King gives a few different takes on the difference between a just and unjust law. They’ve all to do with‚ as King says‚ “difference made legal”; as to say‚ “An unjust law is a code that a numerical or power majority group compels a minority group to obey but does not make binding on itself.” It is necessary
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2012 Rhetorical Response – Letter from Birmingham Jail The “Letter from Birmingham Jail” was composed on April 16‚ 1963 by Dr. Martin Luther King‚ Jr. from his jail cell‚ during his brief incarceration. Dr. King’s letter was written as a direct response to an open letter [which criticized his activity]; signed by eight white clergymen and published in the Birmingham News. Further‚ Dr King’s indirect audience was the United States (U.S.) White Moderate class. In his letter Dr. King made very
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“Letter from Birmingham City Jail” – King Martin Luther King’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail” was written in response to a letter directed at him on April 12‚ 1963 by a group of clergymen. His response was composed under difficult circumstances‚ in a jail cell with limited paper. In fact‚ he began the composition of this address on the margins of a newspaper and small scraps of paper. He was thrown in jail for‚ in the words of the clergymen‚ participating in and leading “unwise and untimely”
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While being detained in a Birmingham jail King wrote a poetic response to an article written by some Southern clergymen explaining what led up to him being arrested and put in jail. In his powerful response King illustrates his credibility‚ appeals to the emotions of the clergymen‚ and supports his stance with logical reasons. Also through the use of logical‚ ethical‚ and emotional appeals King is able to illustrate his point of view to the clergymen. In Kings letter to the clergymen‚ King establishes
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First Martin Luther King effectively makes use of logos throughout his letter. He clarifies all of the reasons for his arguments and supports them well. His arguments are also logical in their appeal. For example‚ in the beginning of his letter he gives a response to the clergymen’s claim that the demonstrations were unwise and untimely. He states that the Negro community had no alternative except to prepare for direct action. He supports this claim by saying that the Negro leaders sought to negotiate
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Letter from a Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr. mentions the atrocities of racism and describes his endless battles against it. King does this in an effective and logical way. King establishes his position supported by historical and biblical allusions‚ counterarguments‚ and the use of rhetorical devices such as ethos‚ pathos‚ and logos. With the use of King’s rhetorical devices‚ he described the ways of the Birmingham community and their beliefs‚ connected to the reader on an emotional level
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Luther King’s language choice‚ tone‚ and style in Letter from Birmingham Jail reflect his political viewpoint and personal character; just like his political actions‚ they are unapologetic‚ direct‚ respectful‚ and instruct others to act morally. King eloquently conveys the urgency of the Birmingham situation and guides the reader to understand the unjust circumstances and all the “broken promise[s]” that oppress black people. King’s open letter evidences his gift of purposeful and elegant language
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