An Argument Analysis Of Martin Luther King's Letter

Dr. King responded to those clergymen from his jail cell in a persuasive manner. Although Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has his critics in the clergy who argue against his civil rights demonstrations in Birmingham, he effectively uses all three types of rhetorical strategies to effectively persuade his critics by explaining why his actions are just and timely in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” In his response Dr. King has to establish credibility early since his audience has already been critical of his actions, and he accomplishes this immediately. He establishes a connection with a part of his intended audience, the clergymen, by stating his role in different organizations. Dr. King writes “I have the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization operating in every southern state, with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. We have some eighty-five

Luther was one of the many supporter of President Lyndon Johnson, however, "he became increasingly concerned about U.S. involvement in Vietnam and, as his concerns became more public, his relationship with the Johnson administration deteriorated" (“Martin Luther King, Jr., Speaks out against the War”). In his speech, Luther discussed how both whites and blacks were fighting together for our nations, yet if they were here, they would not even be close to each other: " So we watch them in brutal solidarity burning the huts of a poor village, but we realize that they would hardly live on the same block in Chicago. I could not be silent in the face of such cruel manipulation of the poor" ("Beyond Vietnam"). From this speech, we can all learn about the issues that occurred within the United

On April 12, 1963 the Alabamian clergymen sent out a public letter discussing the violations that Martin Luther King Jr. was causing in Birmingham. Once King saw the letter , in jail after being imprisoned for peaceful marching in the civil rights movement, he responded explaining that the clergy weren’t doing anything to help out the African American racial injustices. Martin Luther King not only responded to the Alabamian clergymen’s criticism in his letter, he also addressed the local African American community in order to successfully convince them that they need to continue fighting for their equal rights. Martin Luther King strategically uses biblical allusions, knowing that his immediate audience is the clergy, and the reference to

Also Lincoln grew up in County, Kentucky, while King grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. Also King felt the abuse of African Americans first hand. Being black at that time King had been hurt abused, been called awful names and even his house being physically attacked. Whereas Lincoln was a white male who had been in a powerful position and had not felt the first hand abuse of African americans. They were also amazing leaders but in different time periods.

Dr. King’s way of speech in “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” starts off with, “My Dear fellow Clergymen,” which seems oddly reserved. He had learned that Birmingham clergymen had issued a declaration critiquing him and flattering the city’s narrow-minded police influence, when Dr. King had been in solitary quarantine. Due to this, anyone could agree that Dr. King had every right to write an enraged letter. However, his topic was not to go off on this matter, but to explain himself. Thus, Dr. King starts his letter with “fellow clergymen,” which depicts the main idea of his argument, which is “brotherhood.” Angered by this critique, he maintains a diplomatic tone throughout the letter.

Many people were tired of this wrong doing that African Americans were experiencing during that time. Emmett Till is not the only young man that was killed for speaking to a white person. In a since this was the final straw that African Americans had. Many African Americans were tired of being scared or looked down upon by many people who did not know anything about them. All over the world from Chicago all the way to Alabama, many African Americans started putting their foot down and they started standing up and demanding their freedom.

Martin Luther King repeats himself throughout the whole speech but he does it in a way to where he uses it in a different context. He may use different words along with using it in different ways. Some examples are when he repeats “One hundred years later” about two to three times in one paragraph and “Now is the time” about three to four times in another paragraph. Through continuous repetition throughout the speech, King tries to stress his point to the audience. Another example is when asked when Negros will be satisfied, King reply’s with “We will not be satisfied” many times throughout the speech.

King follows the rest of the letter with more emotional cries, which included the split that had formed within the black community, on the argument of civil rights; Some had begun to settle for segregation, including some of the clergymen who had criticized King. Near the end, he opposes the clergymen's praise toward the Birmingham Police Department, by providing a vivid description of the attack on himself and his fellow protesters, leading up to his arrest. MLK closes his letter by stating his current situation, apologizing for the letter's length, and portraying a deep sense of pity, as he wishes for all to find faith for a better future. Martin Luther King's Letter from Birmingham City Jail makes heavy use of ethos and logos to clarify issues and concerns from his criticizers, but relies even more on the emotional connection that it portrays on the reader. With this clarification, King is able to defend his image, and re-ignite the drive, that his imprisonment and criticism had halted, towards the progression of the Civil Rights Movement.

Persuading people who are against you or even hate you is a very difficult task, but is not impossible. As of right now we are living in a very hostile country due to the selected president. So we need to find ways to persuade people in our favor. To help find out how to look for ways to persuade people in our favor, let's look at an example, “Martin Luther King Jr” when he writes his “Letter From Birmingham City Jail” in response to the Clergymen. Martin Luther King's message was to tell the Clergymen that he was doing no wrong in his protests.

Okonkwo hates change, and he feels that the missionaries have brought about change through their religion, which has started to affect other aspects of traditional Igbo life and its people. He feels that the men have gotten weaker, hence him feeling proud when the warriors start acting like warriors again in his mind when the village agrees some violent action must be taken against the white man. When the village crier announces that there will be a meeting to discuss what to do about the foreigners following Okonkwo and the other prisoners getting released, Okonkwo is very excited. However, once the meeting gets interrupted by court messengers during a speech about how the white man is desecrating their gods and ancestral spirits, things take a turn for the worst. As soon as the head messenger tells the crowd to disperse “Okonkwo drew his machete.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a very historical character. “We cannot walk alone.” (www.goodreads.com) Martin Luther King Jr. was born January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. King was an inspiration even when he was younger to help his community. For example, he was a minister and pastor in many churches because of his belief in God, he fought against racial prejudice, and became a sharecropper family in a poor farming community. King quoted “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?” (http://parade.com/) As inspiration in our life we can learn how to help one another instead of learning based on race.