Mlk Letter To Birmingham Jail Analysis

Many people believe that racism finished or disappeared after the Civil Rights Movement in 1960 but its signs are seen in the society around us even nowadays. Even though people have fought so much for the equality of the races it seems like the white supremacy always finds a way to show itself and suppress the wanted equality in one way or another. But going back in time, remembering one of the most important movements in the history of the US and of the world which has been the African-American Civil Rights Movement, whose leader was Martin Luther King Jr. “Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American pastor, activist, humanitarian, and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent

Ethos is seen almost in every piece of the letter as it is obvious that emotional strength is one of the main reasons why this letter is considered to be a “masterpiece” even after all these years.
Since in the first sentence Dr. King draws the attention of the audience writing: “While confined here in the Birmingham city jail, I came across your recent statement calling my present activities unwise and untimely”(King, 1963). By mentioning the place from where he is writing the letter, the attention goes directly to the dirty, suffocating rooms of the jail which in some way represent the life of the black people in that particular period. The black people of that time were living a life of injustice, violence which was not better than the rooms of the jail where he was staying. They weren’t free but instead were captive in their own home and life. Still King doesn’t show his anger towards the clergymen but instead he writes to them in a very respective manner calling them “men of genuine goodwill” (King, 1963). He uses diplomatic criticism to avoid writing words that would look like an attack to the white