In “LFBJ” MLK uses logos and allusion to enhance his argument favor of civil disobedience. “One who breaks an unjust law must do it openly, lovingly (not hatefully as the white mothers did in New Orleans when they were seen on television screaming “nigger, nigger, nigger”)(pg.8) and with willingness to accept the penalty. This example of logos that MLK uses shows a real example of how much whites hated the African Americans explaining how white people harassed the African American no madder if they were punished or not. “we can never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was”legal” and everything Hungarian freedom fighters did Hungary was”illegal” It was “illegal” to aid and comfort a Jew in Hitler’s Germany”)(Pg.8) This example of Allusion…
About individual civil rights. In the ´Letter from Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King sorts to respond to the criticism of several clergy men since he believes they are “men of genuine good will”. In respond to what they said about their actions being “unwise and untimely”. King explains their delay in action due to the occurring events, back to back. They do not wish the media to copulate their actions with the events, because they are two separate things. After that explanation, King states what brought him in Birmingham. Injustice is what brought this man to the city. King states that Birmingham is the most segregated city in America. Simply because there are brutal police incidents. Bombings of Negro properties such as homes, churches than any other city. And colored people are treated unjustly in courts. Thus with these things happening in Birmingham, King went there to get justice for the oppressed, because he believes that their individual civil rights are…
Written by Martin Luther King Jr., the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is a paragon of persuasive writing that takes advantage of ethos, pathos, and logos in order to convince its readers to take MLK’s side during the American civil rights movement. The use of ethos defines MLK as a credible writer; the use of pathos appeals to his audience on a personal level; and the use of logos layers his arguments and claims with irrefutable reasoning and logic. By using all three techniques, MLK is able to hold the attention of his readers and persuade them to take his side in the battle against segregation.…
Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail is a response to eight of his fellow clergymen. He wrote this letter while the government arrested him and other protesters who were demonstrating in Birmingham, and he dedicated his whole life to the civil rights of the Blacks. In this letter, he response to the clergymen that questions his methods of protest. Different from Thomas Jefferson’s pure logic argument, he still adds his passionate sense of the injustice African Americans has suffered to his cool logic argument. Also, he uses first person perspective in this letter, which makes it more personal. Anyway, these two writings own different properties, so it is obvious that they would have different writing techniques. However, Martin…
When answering the question does peaceful resistance to laws positively of negatively impact a free society, one word takes precedence - peaceful. Too many times we overlook that word and the result is just resistance to laws. In recent days, something that was titled peaceful demonstration turned into violent protest. The violence is often the intention of the "resistance" groups from the onset. The latest example comes from those who protested the outcome of the presidential election of Donald Trump. Their intention was violence and destruction in the name of protest. Egged on by media corporations with political leanings, these enraged individuals are given a free pass. This gives actual civil disobedience no chance to create positive change. The majority of protestors have no idea what cause they are associated with, just looking for their shot to get on television. The next "protest" must outdo the last and so on and so on. It is now commonplace to destroy property, set fires and attack innocent bystanders to get your point across.…
In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote “Letter from Birmingham Jail” from jail in Birmingham, Alabama in response to a public statement issued by eight white clergyman calling his actions “ unwise and untimely”. African Americans have been waiting to have there civil rights of freedom, but the social courts has requested them not protest on the street but to take it to court. Dr. King wrote, “This wait has almost always meant never.” This is why Dr. king addresses this matter in a letter about the battle of segregation. He hopes that this letter will stop this injustice matter, and show what the African American desire. Furthermore, Dr. King had four steps to achieve his goals by collecting facts, negotiation, self-purification, and direct…
Martin Luther King Jr Prominent leader for the African American Civil Rights Movement was imprisoned on April 12th, 1963, for the actions he committed against the law, purposefully breaking the laws at the time through acts of non-violence to propose a future of a non-segregated United States of America. Following Dr. Kings imprisonment, a group of eight clergymen had sent an open letter out, formally known as “A Call for Unity” to criticize whether his actions were suitable for others and himself to follow and urging others to halt their demonstrations. He constructed his response through a letter which he had written on April 16th, 1963, within the Birmingham jail which, was later publicly titled “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. Dr. King discusses…
While confined here in the Birmingham city jail, I came across your recent statement calling my present activities "unwise and untimely." Seldom do I pause to answer criticism of my work and ideas. If I sought to answer all the criticisms that cross my desk, my secretaries would have little time for anything other than such correspondence in the course of the day, and I would have no time for constructive work. But since I feel that you are men of genuine good will and that your criticisms are sincerely set forth, I want to try to answer your statement in what I hope will be patient and reasonable terms.…
In the excerpt from Martin Luther King Jr.’s open letter, “A Letter From a Birmingham Jail” (1963), the author accosts his fellow black clergymen to cease their acts of apathy towards the social injustices against the African American community. The intended purpose of the text is to assemble powerful religious leaders to act upon society’s unjust treatment towards African Americans. Through the use of empathetic and hypothetical examples, imagery, and parallel structure, King composes a passionate, zealous persona in order to illustrate the urgency to rise above segregation, discrimination, and prejudice.…
In a “A call for Unity” eight white clergymen began to criticize Martin Luther King for his action, which they considered, “untimely and unwise tactics”. However, they were wrong, King used direct action to put an end to segregation, unjust laws and establish equality for all. In a “Letter from Birmingham Jail” Martin Luther King continuously shapes his arguments around the clergymen who considered his actions “unwise and untimely”. In addition, he discusses how his call to action was the only way the white men and women in the social structure would cooperate and listen. Both of these men were considered clergymen because they both were leaders of a specified practice that led to equality for all. Martin Luther King’s argument was more convincing because he continuously establishes his credibility and he addresses the counters presented, and refutes them effectively.…
On April 16th, 1963, during the peak of the Civil Rights movement, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote to a collection of clergymen in regards to his beliefs and protests. In his “Letter From Birmingham Jail,” King aptly wrote to the clergymen about their concerns in a respectful manner, while maintaining his dignity and explaining his purpose. In order to validate his points, he first built his credibility, and from there flowed into a plethora of other strategies. His emotional anecdotes and insight are strong points in his letter, appealing to the clergymen’s sense of compassion and justice. The imagery that accompanies his writing creates vivid and horrifying scenes meant to encourage the reader to join King in his civil rights endeavors. Logically, King presents his values in a manner that becomes inarguable against, which furthers the persuasive value of his writing. His…
Most people agree that bullying is unethical, hurtful, damaging and that schools should not condone it. Furthermore, some concede that schools should educate students about bullying, and the psychological harm bullying has on victims. For instance, according to stopbulling.gov kids who are bullied are more likely to experience depression and anxiety. Bullies should not be allowed to define what bullying is, nor should they determine how a victim should feel about being bullied. In the same way an oppressor is someone who gains from other people’s suffering or misfortune. Which poses the question, should the oppressor have a say on how the oppressed should feel about inequality?…
Martin Luther King Jr. uses metaphors and analogies in his letter to appeal to the spectators from an emotional point of view and persuade his audience to join his anti racist movement.…
Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" is a response to Dr. King's follow clergymen criticism. The topic of Dr. Kings letters from a Birmingham prison is the nonviolent protest being done in Birmingham, Alabama in the fight for African Americans civil rights. Some clergymen, mostly white American men, believe the nonviolent protest Dr. King and African Americans were during was "unwise" and "untimely". The main argument Dr. King is making in the letter is the protest being done in Birmingham is "wise" and most important "timely". The way Dr. King constructs his argument is as if he was preaching his argument to his congregation. Take for instance when the part of the letter when Dr. King talks about different men, both biblical…
The letter was ostensibly conceived in response to a letter that had recently run in a local newspaper which had claimed that the protest were "unwise and untimely." However King also deliberately wrote his letter for a national audience. We believe that King states in the first sentence himself that he does not usually comment upon the criticism of his work. Yes he does criticize the white clergymen but basically he is trying to tell them that they should stop this segregation and that the black are not to be mistreated. Martin Luther Kings "letter from Birmingham Jail" strives to justify the desperate need for nonviolent direct action, the absolute immorality of unjust laws together with what a just law is. King wants to bring to the readers realization the fact that laws are only to be followed when they are rightfully just and correct. He also wants the readers to realize that negroes are not to be mistreated and that the mistreatment of negroes could have severe implications as in a violent protest against the laws made by the court. Mistreatment of this kind is labeled as racial discrimination. He wants the clergyman to realize that what they believe and think is wrong. King gives a singular, eloquent voice to a massive, jumbled movement. 'Letter from Birmingham Jail'"' is a clearly written essay that explains the reasons behind, and the methods of nonviolent civil disobedience, and gently expresses King's disappointment with those who are generally supportive of equal rights for African-Americans. Martin Luther King, more than any other figure, shaped American life from the mid-"'"50s to the late "'"60s. "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice anywhere!" " A just law is man made code that squares with the moral law or the law of the god. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law." " Any law that uplifts human personality is just." " Any law that degrades human personality is unjust." King through this letter tries to express his…