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Mlk Letter To Birmingham Jail Essay

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While contained at Birmingham Jail Martin Luther King Jr. wrote an open letter encouraging and defending a nonviolent approach to dealing with racism. Martin Luther King Jr. being known as a public figure who has impacted the way America as a whole treats African-Americans. Having lived through a time when his rights, as well as every person of color didn’t match to their fellow Americans, he felt the need to advocate. The letter has been considered as one of the best argument pieces, persuading and convincing many, due to diction and usage of rhetorical strategies. As Martin Luther King begins this piece he is notably respectful. His tone seems to be very much formal when he refers to those he is addressing. Having opened the letter with, "My Dear Fellow Clergymen" it is clear that he respects whoever plans to read his writing. He takes a calm and respectful approach to keep the reader interested in his views. When considering appeals to MLK Jr. 's credibility he does just that early on. " I have the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization operating in every southern state..." Given that he holds such a role it makes his written work, as well as him as an individual, very reliable regarding the topic of rights for Americans. Not only does …show more content…

Deeper into this piece there are appeals to ones emotions. One example is when he mentions the bombings that have occurred. "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. These are the hard, brutal facts of the case." This reaches the emotions of a reader considering, with the honest facts of unjust treatment that occurs that took the lives of many innocent people of color. Also, MLK Jr. is being brutally honest in order for the audience to feel they are being respected and not lied

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