Letter Birmingham
Response to the Letter from Birmingham Jail

It is difficult to imagine being in the position Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was in when he wrote this letter. Though it was far from the only time he was arrested during his campaigning for civil rights, the "Birmingham Campaign" that led to this arrest was one of the larger movements of civil disobedience that King helped to lead, and the weight that he must have felt he carried during his imprisonment is not something anyone can truly understand, I suspect. This weight and the impetus it must have given King makes the measured and restrained tone of this letter all the more remarkable -- there really isn't a trace of anger or aggression to be found anywhere in the letter. King manages to sound almost conciliatory in response to the several criticisms levied against him by others, even those who ostensibly…...

Letter from Birmingham Jail by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dear Sir:

My name is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I am currently imprisoned in a Birmingham Jail as a result of accusations of inciting a riot. On the eve of October 14th of this year, 1958 I lead a peaceful demonstration protesting unfair wages and poor working conditions of the poor people in the city of Birmingham. I would like to preface by saying that I have and will always participate and incite only peaceful protest against unfair conditions and prejudicial views and legislative systems. The disruption that occurred following our peaceful walk was not the result of our actions, but rather the fault of close minded individuals not open to helping others. Justice has not been carried out tonight, and I plead with you to help me pass along the true meaning of truth and freedom through just ways. Justice…...

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Reference Concepts:

Martin Luther King Jr., Biography" (2002). The King Center, Atlanta Georgia. Retrieved from, http://thekingcenter.com/mlk/bio.html

Matin Luthe King J.'s "Lette fom Bimingham Jail"
Matin Luthe King J.'s lette fom Bimingham Jail, which was witten in Apil 16, 1963, is a passionate lette that addesses and esponds to the issue and citicism that a goup of white clegymen had thown at him and his po- black Ameican oganization about his and his oganization's non- violent demonstative actions against acial pejudice and injustice among black Ameicans in Bimingham. King wites the lette to defend his oganization's actions and the lette is also an appeal to the people, both the white and black Ameican society, the social, political, and eligious community, and the whole of Ameican society to encouage desegegation and encouage solidaity and equality among all Ameicans, with no statifications accoding to acial diffeences.

King's lette fom Bimingham Jail addesses the Ameican society, paticulaly the political and eligious community of the Ameican society. Specifically, King's lette addesses thee…...

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references to famous philosophers and well-known individuals in the world give a strong argument to his positions in the letter.

In conclusion, it is apparent that the elements of pathos and ethos were used in King's letter to argue and defend his position about the black American segregation in America. At the initial part of his letter, King uses ethos, or appeals based on King's character and validity as a defender of the black American cause. This is evident in his use of his position and the name is organization and his use of his position as a political and religious activist to effectively argue and make his point to his three main audience: the white American political and religious community, and the black American society. Pathos, or appeals based on emotions, are used to his argument addressed to his fellow black Americans, and also accompanies his logical arguments (logos) about the black American individual rights, freedom, and the equality of every man/individual. Through these three important elements of rhetoric, King was able to make a passionate, and very argumentative position and refutation against the criticisms thrown at him and his organization regarding their demonstrations admonishing the practice of racial prejudice, segregation, and slavery. Thus, the primary purpose of King's letter, which is to advocate for the abolishment of racial segregation and pushing for the freedom of black Americans in his white American- dominated society, is achieved through his broad knowledge and authority over issues of racial segregation, through his effective emotional appeals to the people regarding inequality and injustices to the black American society, and the presentation of "hard, brutal, unbelievable facts" to support his statements regarding the serious and dangerous effects of racial prejudice in the American society. In effect, King's position/stance against racial segregation is a strong one, because of the balanced and effective use of these primary rhetoric elements, which is dominantly present in his rhetorical letter from the Birmingham Jail.

He clarifies his status i.e. A spiritual leader and a learned person by using well chosen ethos of St. Aquinas, Jesus and Paul therefore puts him forth as a trustworthy person. Also being an African-American makes him the right person to participate in this event because he understands the situation properly. By use of logos he explains the reason behind the actions of the black persons of which the clergymen claim to be improper. He also makes use of pathos where he plays with the emotions of the readers to subdue opposition and create the connection between the clergymen and the black person therefore allows him to effectively bolster his vision for equality. An appeal for unity and peace concludes the letter.
orks Cited

King, Luther M. Letter from the Birmingham Jail. NewYork: Harpercollins, 1963.

Lacroix, Laurel., ed. Martin Luther King's Letter from Birmingham Jail. 16 April. 1963. 22

March. 2010.



Ryley, Thomas. "Oratorical…...

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Works Cited

King, Luther M. Letter from the Birmingham Jail. NewYork: Harpercollins, 1963.

Lacroix, Laurel., ed. Martin Luther King's Letter from Birmingham Jail. 16 April. 1963. 22

March. 2010.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter From Birmingham Jail." It uses M.Gandhi as an example of extremism to match King's example of Jesus Christ. It includes a quote by King on Gandhi. It distinguishes King's form of extreme behavior from the extreme action of those who mailed the anthrax-contaminated letters.
LETTER FROM BIRMINGHAM JAIL

Martin Luther King Jr. knew the same discontent and yearning for freedom that eventually manifests in oppressed people no matter on what continent they live or in what era of history. He believed that repressed emotions equaled bloodshed if not directed to a nonviolent path of action, for the passion of discontent can be over-powering and often bursts forth in rage (http://nobelprizes.com/nobel/peace/MLK-jail.html).

King was aware of the pendulum of change and how extreme action is needed at times to force the swing to balance. Moreover, he was certain that extremism by peaceful means was the correct path to justice…...

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WORKS CITED:

Gandhi, Mohandas. History. (accessed 02-19-2002).

 http://www.engagedpage.com/gandhi.html .

King Jr., Martin Luther. Letter From Birmingham Jail. April 16, 1963. (accessed 02-19-

2002). http://nobelprizes.com/nobel/peace/MLK-jail.html.

MLK Letter From Birmingham
A Rhetorical Appeal for Justice

Martin Luther King, Jr. was arrested in 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama as a direct consequence of his participation in demonstrations against segregation. It was during this time that King wrote "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." This letter was a response to the open letter "A Call for Unity" which aimed to promote non-violent protests in the area. In King's response to "A Call for Unity," he details his reasoning behind his actions and also details the imminent social threat that was looming over the South. Through his use of commiseration, analogy and allegory, and paradox, King is able to argue the pitfalls of segregation and the consequences of inaction.

In order to be the most effective, King compares himself metaphorically and similarly to religious figures to explain his purpose in Birmingham and within the civil rights movement. King does not intend to make himself…...

Abstract
Writing a Letter from Birmingham Jail analysis essay offers the student the gift of going back in time to the courage and ferocity of the Civil Rights Movement to examine one of the most eloquent documents of that era. The Civil Rights Era was one of the uglier periods in American history—and one of the most triumphant and inspiring. No document embodies this dichotomy as fully as King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail. In it, King details many of the horrors that black Americans have suffered at the hands of white hatred and complacency. Yet, the letter is without a doubt, a document of hope and conviction, inspiration and profundity. This paper details the background circumstances that provoked King in writing the letter and examines closely the brilliance contained in the words, ultimately discussing why it remains such a lauded document even today.

Introduction

Letter from Birmingham Jail is often unanimously lauded as…...

You carefully outline the four steps to your non-violent approach of ending segregation: determining the existence of injustice, attempting to negotiate, purifying and preparing individually and as a group, and finally engaging in peaceful direct action. The case you make for these points is strong, and the evidence in Birmingham supporting this pattern of behavior on your part, and on the part of our enemies as well, is equally apparent. I do not understand, then, why you insist that the same methodologies that have proven ineffective in the past will somehow work with continued pressure. Your insistence on this non-violent approach is no better than the constant cries of "Wait!" which you claim -- correctly -- echo so painfully in the ears of the so-called Negro men, women, and children who have yearned for freedom for centuries.

Another rising leader of the so-called Negro, Malcolm X, has insisted that "Truth will…...

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References

Du Bois, W.E.B. (1906). "Harper's ferry Speech." Accessed 17 September 2009.  http://www.africanamericanstudies.buffalo.edu/ANNOUNCE/niagaramovement/harpers/harperspeech.html 

King, M.L. (1963). "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." Accessed 17 September 2009.  http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html 

X, Malcolm. (1963). "The Black Revolution." Accessed 17 September 2009.  http://www.malcolm-x.org/speeches/spc_06__63.htm

Furthermore the rhetoric here is rich in symbolism. Dr. King draws parallels between the response of violence to his peaceful protests and other great personalities whose commitment to justice, truth, and love also had unintended and unfortunate consequences. Personalities like ocrates and Jesus, for example, could not be expected to deny their truth for fear of public reaction. Dr. King makes this argument even stronger by also drawing the parallel between himself and the completely innocent person, whose possession of money resulted in the evil of theft. By drawing these parallels, Dr. King points out that an argument regarding the actions of others cannot be used to condemn those who protest peacefully. Dr. King and his followers are innocent of the crime of violence. Dr. King's argument is therefore that they cannot be held accountable for the violence committed by others, who are neither followers of his, nor affiliated with…...

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Sources

King, Martin Luther. Letter from a Birmingham Jail.

Smith, N. (2010). Rhetoric and martin Luther King Jr.: "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" and "I Have a Dream." Article Myriad. Retrieved from:  http://www.articlemyriad.com/163.htm

The first independent clause begins in a strong active voice, with a strong decisive verb, (Graff, 2006).
This represents his shift from true passiveness to a form of non-violent action. Then, the dependent clause "realizing that except for Christmas," begins with a gerund. The verb to realize is transformed into a noun with the adding of a "-ing." This is aimed at showing the general modality of the speaker. The speaker and all involved had a previous knowledge of the realization involved in the process. Then King Jr. refers back to the object Easter with the subject and verb of "this is." This is a form of a relative clause which is therefore a form of adjective clause, (Lewis, 1986).

The next sentence continues the modality of the gerund verb. This sentence is a dependent attached to an independent clause first beginning with a gerund, "Knowing that a strong economic withdrawal…...

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References

King, Martin Luther Jr. (1963). Letter from Birmingham jail. University of Pennsylvania. African Studies. 12 June. 2008.  http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html 

Lewis, Michaels. (1986). The English verb: an exploration of structure and meaning.

Language Teaching Publications.

Strunk, William & White, E.B. (1999). The elements of style. Longman Publishers.

Letter from the Birmingham Jail" by Martin Luther King, Jr., and "A Letter from the Clergy" by some leading spiritual clergy in Birmingham, Alabama. Specifically, it will summarize the two letters. Both of these letters provide compelling reasons for what the authors believe in, and they are both very persuasive and convincing in their own way.
The clergymen believe that King's actions, in creating a march that led to many arrests (including King's own arrest), is the wrong way to attempt to gain civil right for black Americans. They believe that these measures are "extreme" and not necessary for the circumstances. They write, "We also point out that such actions to incite such hatred and violence, however technically peaceful these actions might be, have not contributed to the resolution of our local problems" (Miller 486). This is persuasive for a number of reasons. First, the clergy note that even peaceful…...

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References

Miller, Robert Keith. Motives for Writing With Student Access to Catalyst. New York: McGraw Hill, 2005.

He knew that racial divides could be conquered as long as men remained rational.
King's appeal to authority, or ethos, emerges when he states it was "was evidenced sublimely in the refusal of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to obey the laws of Nebuchadnezzar, on the ground that a higher moral law was at stake . . . To a degree, academic freedom is a reality today because Socrates practiced civil disobedience" (King). Here King illustrates how civil disobedience has good consequences and, in the end, one must follow one's on inclination. hen he refers to the Boston Tea Party, he is appealing to ethos because they were disobeying, too. His appeal is logical and more difficult to dispute. The last thing King wanted to do was seem illogical and irrational.

ork Cited

King, Martin Luther. "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." 1963. University of Pennsylvania online.

Information Retrieved January 27, 2009.

...

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Work Cited

King, Martin Luther. "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." 1963. University of Pennsylvania online.

Information Retrieved January 27, 2009.

Birmingham Campaign of 1963 and the Civil Rights Movement Since the end of the Civil War and the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery in America, equal rights for African Americans was one of the anticipated outcomes. Yet, the law did not swing entirely in favor of equality; rather, it offered freedom and segregation. Jim Crow laws were essentially institutionalized with the Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) decision, which affirmed that blacks were “separate but equal” to whites—i.e., they were “equal” in the eyes of the law (after all, the 14th Amendment had affirmed their equality, and the 15th had affirmed their right to vote—even women were not granted that right until the 19th Amendment), but as far as the law was concerned blacks were not permitted to mingle with whites in public. Thus, blacks had to sit in their own sections in a theatre (the balcony—referred to as…...

I can assure you that it would have been much shorter if I had been writing from a comfortable desk," (para. 47). The use of sarcasm allows King to retain his sense of confidence rather than to seem conciliatory to those who have thrwarted civil rights. Earlier on, King also uses sarcasm to enhance the confident tone of his writing. "I am sure that none of you would want to rest content with the superficial kind of social analysis that deals merely with effects and does not grapple with underlying causes." (para 4).
To achieve a balanced tone in the letter, King blends anger regarding discrimination with the hope of liberation. Doing so, King frames civil rights as a necessary part of achieving the social order and the goals of the Founding Fathers. He remains angry while also pointing out that liberation was the ultimate goal of American Independence. King…...

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Work Cited

King, Martin Luther. Letter from Birmingham Jail. April 16, 1963.

Coatesville" John Jay Chapman "The Letter Birmingham Jail" Martin Luther
Deeply Disillusioned

The United States of America has meant a wide variety of things to several different people, particularly to those who have had to call its shores home. The initial promise of this land -- as one of redemption, as a place where the lofty ideas engraved within such documents as the Bill of Rights and the Constitution have never been fully realized by a widening number of people who have never been treated with the degree of parity and ideals within them -- wasted little time in going sour. Virtually any Native American can tell you: there can never be justice on stolen land. In spite of this fact, men such as Martin Luther King, Jr. have written their own documents (such as "Letter From A Birmingham Jail," a discourse about the need for public non-violent protest) attempting to…...

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Works Cited

Chapman, John Jay. "Coatesville." Wake Forest University. 28. Oct. 2011.  http://www.wfu.edu/%7Ezulick/index.html 

King Jr., Martin Luther. "Letter From A Birmingham Jail." University or Pennsylvania Africana Studies. 28 Oct. 2011.  http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html

Politicians' Essays: Shaping Public Opinion and Policy Decisions

Politicians have long used essays to communicate their ideas, advocate for policies, and influence public opinion. These essays serve as powerful tools that can shape the political landscape by informing debates, mobilizing support, and ultimately influencing policy decisions.

Influencing Public Opinion

Politicians' essays are an effective means of reaching a wide audience and disseminating their perspectives. By publishing essays in newspapers, magazines, and online platforms, politicians can bypass traditional media gatekeepers and directly engage with the public.

These essays allow politicians to present their views in a nuanced and in-depth manner, providing an alternative to the....

I. Introduction

1. Background on Martin Luther King Jr.

   1. Overview of his civil rights activism
   2. Significance of the Letter from Birmingham Jail

II. Arguments in the Letter from Birmingham Jail

1. Call for Nonviolent Protest

   1. Explanation of the effectiveness of nonviolent resistance
   2. Comparison to violent protests

2. Critique of Moderate White Christians

   1. Addressing the role of white moderates in perpetuating segregation
   2. Criticism of their lack of action and complacency

3. Defense of Civil Disobedience

   1. Justification of breaking unjust laws peacefully
   2. Importance of civil disobedience in....

I. Introduction

1. Rhetorical Structure
   
   

   1. Logical Argumentation
   
   
   2. Religious Allusions

2. Audience Engagement
   
   

   1. Direct Address to White Clergy
   
   
   2. Use of "You" and "We"

II. Body

1. Social Justice and Injustice
   
   

   1. Critique of Jim Crow Laws
   
   
   2. Biblical Basis for Equality

2. Responsibility of Church
   
   

   1. Moral Imperative to Speak Out
   
   
   2. Condemnation of White Moderates

3. Nonviolent Resistance
   
   

   1. Christian....

Martin Luther King Jr.'s essay "Letter from Birmingham Jail" had a significant impact on the civil rights movement by serving as a powerful manifesto for nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience. In the letter, King eloquently laid out the reasons for the civil rights movement, defended his strategy of nonviolent protest, and criticized the inaction of white moderates.

The letter helped to galvanize support for the civil rights movement by articulating its goals and strategies in a compelling and persuasive manner. It also brought attention to the plight of African Americans in the South and the injustices they faced on a daily....