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Allusions In Letter From Birmingham Jail

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In September 1963 four little girls from Birmingham, Alabama, were killed by a bomb that was planted by white supremacists at the 16th St. Baptist Church. Over 20 African Americans were injured. The children were as young as 7 or 8 years old. Even after such tragedy, children continued their efforts to end segregation by marching with Martin Luther King Jr. That same year King was arrested in one of these marches because he did not have a permit. While in jail he wrote “Letter from Birmingham Jail” in response to white clergy who were telling him his tactics were “untimely” and “unwise.” He needed the clergy to understand that many innocent lives have been taken in the fight against injustice. Although King uses an abundance of rhetorical appeals, logos and allusion are the most effective because they earn King the readers’ trust, help the clergymen better understand the civil rights movement from a biblical perspective. …show more content…

He uses a quote from St. Augustine, one of the founders of the Catholic church. It was important to use since most clergymen are catholic. King quotes St. Augustine‘s “an unjust law is no law at all.’” Using strong words written by someone so important helps the clergy realize King is not some illiterate African American, he is proving that he is educated as well. St. Augustine was an African philosopher, so he may have been African American which gives the clergymen an example of an intelligent person who isn’t white. St. Augustine is saying although it’s considered a law doesn’t make it acceptable. Clergymen would have studied St. Augustine yet they are condoning “unjust laws” that let white people get away with hate crimes. The laws against African Americans are not morally right, the laws might seem right to white people but it's only because they aren't treating everyone justly. White people think only because their skin is different they don’t deserve the same

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