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Letter to Clergymen by Martin Luther King Jr.

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Letter to Clergymen by Martin Luther King Jr.
AP Lang and Composition Mrs. Kenney-Quinn November 12, 2013 “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up, live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal.” All throughout history black have been mistreated. Whether it was slavery in early American history or segregation until the mid 1900’s. In the past, blacks were always being treated with such a condescending manner. Beyond question they have never received their God given rights of freedom. Martin Luther King Jr. was on a mission to give blacks the freedom they deserved and have been waiting for all throughout time. King was the leader of the nonviolent civil rights movement. While incarcerated in Birmingham jail King wrote a letter to eight clergymen (priest or minister of a Christian church) to get them to join his nonviolence movement. King utilizes allusions, anaphora, and pathos to convey his disappointed yet hopeful tone to explain why a nonviolent movement is necessary and attempt to persuade people to join him. It is evident that King makes use of allusions to the Bible and history to convince people to join him in a nonviolent movement. King refers to Paul while making his Biblical allusions. Paul was a Christian who founded several churches and preached that Jesus was the son of God. King asks his fellow clergymen “Was Paul not and extremist for the Christian bible.” He refers to Paul to make a connection with the clergymen so they can see what the King is doing is similar to what Paul did. In like manner they both are striving to have their word heard and to have their beliefs spread. King also makes an allusion to history when
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