Ethos Pathos Logos In Letter From Birmingham Jail

The Letter from Birmingham jail was an important document that marked the black community, it was written by Martin Luther King Jr. During the spring of, 1963, Dr. King sent this letter in a response to the eight clergymen from Alabama. King in order to try to get his readers attention, he utilizes three types of persuasion that appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos. First off, he calls to his own reputation and knowledge. Second, he tries to encourage emotions or sympathy in his audience. Lastly, he appeals to logic, supported with proofs and quotes from important philosophers. In this letter Dr. King first starts off by addressing the reasons why he is in Birmingham, Dr. King states that there is injustice being served there. King uses his reputation to catch the eye of his readers. “I think I should indicate why I am

King also points out the morality of such laws. He points out that they have waited for over 340 years for constitutional and God given rights. He continues giving his audience an insight when he mentions how countries like Africa and Asia are moving with “jet like speed toward political independence, but we still creep at horse-and buggy pace toward getting a cup of coffee at a lunch counter”(King, 1963, p.3, para.1). He continues to argue about unjust laws. Pointing out that laws were made for that exact justice. He points out is due to the fact that there’s injustice in the city of Birmingham that he is there. “Birmingham is probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States. Its ugly record of brutality is widely known. Negroes have experienced grossly unjust treatment in the courts. There have been more unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches in Birmingham than in any other city in the nation” (king, 1963, p.1, para.3). Shortly before closing his letter King addresses the commending of Birmingham police for keeping the order and preventing violence, and shows the flip side of the story to his