But is this a logical assertion? King also wants his readers to know that the call for direct action is essential for negotiations to take place regarding the advancement of civil rights as he says, It seeks to dramatize the issue so that it no longer can be ignored (King). 521 times. Need a custom Essay sample written from scratch by With. Giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen, Adj. "King's Allusion in "Letter From Birmingham Jail"." The white ministers, priests, and rabbis are against King instead of being his allies. Biblical: "The refusal of Shadrach Meshach, and Abednego to obey the laws of Nebuchadnezzar because a higher moral law was involved" "Christians were willing to face hungry lions and the excruciating pain of chopping blocks before submitting to certain unjust laws of the Roman Empire." King says, We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was legal and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was illegal. He used one of Abraham Lincolns quotes from his House Divided speech. On the surface, "Letter from Birmingham Jail" is intended for the Birmingham clergymen who published an open letter criticizing the actions of Dr. King and the SCLC. The "letter of Birmingham Jail" was written by Martin Luther King on April 16, 1963. Colored folks were not allowed in amusement parks, motels, and other recreational spots. The Letter from Birmingham Jail, also known as the Letter from Birmingham City Jail and The Negro Is Your Brother, is an open letter written on April 16, 1963, by Martin Luther King Jr. Explain this criticism, and his response to itwhat is his rationale for being there? Supplemental understanding of the topic including revealing main issues described in the particular theme; Separate but Equal: "Letter from Birmingham Jail" by Martin Luther King Jr. Letter from Birmingham Jail Rhetorical Analysis Essay, Martin Luther King's Letter from a Birmingham Jail, Analysis of the Kings Letter from Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King Argument From Birmingham Jail, Justice in "Letter From Birmingham Jail" by King, US Hospitals and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Mass Media and Civil Rights: "The Race Beat" by Roberts & Klibanoff. Known for contributing to the field of ethics. King uses examples of the effects of segregation on the African American community to explain why he is part of the protests in Birmingham and why they need to continue this kind of peaceful protest until their voices are heard. Explain why the examples fit your chosen reason. Dr. King alluded to Apostle Paul to show the clergymen that they were sharing a common ground. The central purpose of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s letter is to gain alliance with other black organizations, as the NAACP, so that they would bail him out of jail. All rights reserved. MLK references what the clergymen know best, the bible. King exhibits his view on the current situation in Birmingham, Alabama in which influenced him to be there; thus, inconsequently lead him to his imprisonment in Birmingham Jail. In Martin Luther King Jr.'s letter, written to the Clergymen from Birmingham Prison, he uses the rhetorical appeal of ethos to establish his credibility on the subject of racial discrimination and injustice. Before the protest a court ordered that protests couldnt be held in Birmingham. King, in response, drafted his most powerful and extensive letter against social injustice that shed light on the atrocities taking place in Birmingham, Through the act of peaceful protest without a permit in 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested in the city of Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote the "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" on April 16, 1963. Underline each subordinate clause in the sentence. I went on the DB board and viewed my other classmates posts and I didn't notice that they posted their text? melissapoff. In your statement you assert that our actions, even though peaceful, must be condemned because they precipitate violence. He wrote this letter from his jail cell after him and several of his associates were arrested as they nonviolently protested segregation in Birmingham, Alabama. His rationale for being in Birmingham was that he was called to get the message out of flexibility far from the place where he grew up and he was additionally . The supreme court ruling of 1954(Brown vs. Board of Edu.). King does a successful job in his letter by demonstrating the logic of his position, employing emotional appeals, and establishing his credibility with personal facts. This is Kings way of informing his readers that regardless of the hardship that the African American people have endured, they, Martin Luther King, Jr. uses allusions to the Bible to show the hypocrisy of the white clergymen. 1 Page. Why are these references well suited to King's audience? Throughout the letter Dr. King addresses the comments made by the Birmingham clergymen about his civil rights demonstrations. This letter serves as a purpose to apply the need for love and brotherhood towards one another and avoid all the unjust laws. The "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" is an open letter written by King defending nonviolent resistance against racism. (A) sing 10 questions 14 minutes See All test questions "Letter from Birmingham Jail" This passage is adapted from Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail." I think I should give the reason for my being in Birmingham, since you have been influenced by the argument of "outsiders coming in." I have "Governor, think of the public that would result if you were caught taking illegal campaign contributions!" I was puzzled by your request to post my written text regarding my speech on "A Letter from Birmingham Jail." In Kings first book, Stride Toward Freedom, he clearly showed his belief in nonviolent resistance. During the civil rights movement, King did not participate in any violent behavior, despite being jailed for violent behavior. In this logical observation; therefore, appealing to logos and, He addresses the issue by stating, In a nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps. King knows that all these steps must be implemented in full in order for him to achieve equal rights for the African American community. "Letter From a Birmingham Jail," written by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963, describes a protest against his arrest for non-violent resistance to racism. The Color of Christ: The Son of God & the Saga of Race in America. King is aware, and cares, that injustice exists in Birmingham. He compares the circumstances now with what the future can be like. Am. Negroes have experienced grossly unjust treatment in the courts. "LETTER FROM A BIRMINGHAM JAIL": RHETORIC AND ALLUSION Term 1 / 13 Read this excerpt from "Letter from Birmingham Jail" and answer the question. In King's letter he appeals to many emotions as pathos, ethos, and logos to appeal to his audience. By following the four basic steps to the campaign, King, and the black community is seeking equal rights for, In the Letter from Birmingham Jail written by Martin Luther King, persuades the white moderate to support nonviolent direct action against racism and segregation. Lines 14-43: King provides three different types of reasons in his letter to justify his presence in Birmingham: Organizational reasons, religious or historical reasons, and moral reasons. His allusions to Socrates and Hitler's Germany. King addresses this criticism by showing how direct action is necessary because it brings attention to the problems they must negotiate. Martin Luther King Jr. intentionally uses instances of allusions in order to strengthen his overall argument. Illustrate the example using any combination of scenes, characters, and items. The Letter from Birmingham Jail is the letter written by Martin Luther King Jr. to the clergymen of Birmingham, in which he speaks up against the nonviolence demonstration criticisms by white modernists. B. He further states to the audience that, Abused and scorned [they] may be, [their] destiny is tied up with Americas destiny. (68, p. 44). "Languished in filthy roach-infested jails, suffering the abuse and brutality of angry policemen" Even though the white people went through all that, they still support the cause. In that same vein, the clergymen deplore the demonstrations taking place in Birmingham. Ibid., 2. Throughout the letter he points out that the answer to this problem is that there is no such thing as the right time for justice and the time to act is now. The letter argued that people have a moral responsibility to break unjust and unethical laws. "Letter From a Birmingham Jail" by M. L. King, Jr. must. The letter also stresses themes of unity among brothers in order to overcome racism. Martin Luther King concludes his letter by stating the "dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away" and " tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation" (king). Wrote Pilgrim's Progress. The University of North Carolina Press, 2012. King quotes, Was not Jesus an extremist for love: Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. (Matthew 5:43-44). He makes that reference to address the accusations of extremism, according to an Internet source. He captivates the audience by stating what was happening to his fellow companions: the ways the whites were taking advantage of the blacks. One Internet source says, He compares prejudice to dark clouds and deep fog, while love and brotherhood are described as radiant stars that shine with scintillating beauty. (Gallagher). The main topic of the letter is nonviolent direct actions done in Birmingham. 272-276: words/ideas that echo earlier ideas in the letter(including reason for being in Birmingham), "Nonviolent" " it is wrong to use immoral means to attain moral ends" " nonviolence demands that the means we must be as pure as the ends we seek.". requirements? The contrast in the positive situation King describes? Throughout Kings argument, he appealed his own ethos to his opponents by saying I feel that you are men of genuine good will and that your criticisms are sincerely set forth. The implied counterclaim was even though they're sympathetic, they halt the progress of Af. Analyze the relationship between the italicized word and the words that follow it in each item below. A Letter From Birmingham Jail and I Have A Dream by M. L. King Jr. King 's Letter From Birmingham Jail and Thoreau's Civil Disobedience. He believed that individuals bear responsibility for their own actions. Dr. King also uses one of Jesus quotes when he did his Sermon on the Mount.