Letter From Birmingham Jail Rhetorical Analysis

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Martin Luther King’s Fight for Equality During the course of the U.S’ history, race inequality has always been a problem that concerns different people among the society. There have been many attempts to end segregation in southern states, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered as one of the most important Civil Rights’ activist. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist Minister and a non-violent activist that was born in Atlanta, GA in 1929. During his lifetime, he aimed to promote desegregation in southern states, and fight for equality over African Americans. The important role that Dr. King played promoting non-violent protests in order abolish segregation in southern states, is very notable nowadays in Southern states, especially …show more content…

He led several nonviolent protests in Birmingham as a way to advocate for change and equality for African Americans. However, after a few nonviolent protests looking for desegregation, MLK was arrested in Birmingham, AL. In April 16, 1963, while in jail Martin Luther King wrote one of the most important letters ever written as a response to the Clergyman’s Call for Unity. Martin Luther King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, perfectly applies rhetorical strategies such as Pathos and Logos in order persuade not only his main audience, which was the people supporting segregation, but all the Americans to fight for desegregation. Dr. Martin Luther King perfectly clarify his ambitions through pathos, by using words that emotionally appeal to his audience, and aims to persuade them to join him in the fight for desegregation. In the beginning of his letter, Martin Luther King points out, “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed” (MLK, 45). Specifically on this part of his letter from a Birmingham jail, Dr. King uses