Preview

Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail Essay Example

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
938 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail Essay Example
Bryan Quezada
English Composition 1
Section 12, Spring 2012
Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail - Most Effective Argument

I feel Dr. Martin Luther King’s use of facts and history was an effective argument because it not only gave reason to why he would be in Birmingham but also gave also made a convincing argument of why his cause was justified throughout history by giving examples of times in history where actions like his were necessary and actions of wrongdoing was justified through law.

In his letter to the clergymen, by referring to the bible a number of times, he appealed to the religious beliefs of the clergymen. He shows this when he refers to Apostle Paul, in where Apostle Paul would carry his gospel of god beyond his own village and throughout all over the Greco-Roman world, Martin Luther King would carry his gospel of freedom to beyond his own town and throughout all of the South and America.

Dr. Martin Luther King even goes so far as to refer to Jesus Christ, who he describes as an extremist for love and quotes from him, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you”. Jesus went to extreme lengths to spread his teachings of love, and like Jesus, Dr. King would go to extreme lengths for justice and equality. And he proves this by leading them into the streets to march peacefully, boycotting restaurants and bus stations.

Dr. King also appeals to the sympathetic side of the clergymen when he tells them why his cause cannot ‘wait’ for their ‘constitutional God-given rights”. He goes on to write of why it would be easy for those who never experienced segregation to say wait, but for those who have experienced segregation, it is difficult to wait. Dr. King explains that those who experience segregation find it hard to wait after seeing witness their mothers, fathers lynched by mobs, their brothers and sisters drowned, and beaten and even killed by police officers. And how it feels

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Martin Luther King Jr. wrote this letter while being in Birmingham city jail, when he was aware that a statement was saying his activities were “unwise and untimely”. He stated that Birmingham unfortunate was the city of white power that left no alternatives towards the negro community for their actions. King indicated that he agreed why direct action, sit –ins marches or negotiation were a better path, but because he did not want any crisis. Due to not to having tension with the community, even though the community kept refused to negotiate. He stated that his community had built up resentment and frustration that they need a way to release their emotions. He said if they do not release their emotion in a non-violent way, they will seek a…

    • 177 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Martin Luther King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, he uses an authoritative voice in his analogies, allusions, and ethical appeals that make his argument more relatable and compelling. In comparison, his authorial counterpart lacks the same confidence in his stylistic devices and ethical appeals making his argument weak and less…

    • 52 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    About individual civil rights. In the ´Letter from Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King sorts to respond to the criticism of several clergy men since he believes they are “men of genuine good will”. In respond to what they said about their actions being “unwise and untimely”. King explains their delay in action due to the occurring events, back to back. They do not wish the media to copulate their actions with the events, because they are two separate things. After that explanation, King states what brought him in Birmingham. Injustice is what brought this man to the city. King states that Birmingham is the most segregated city in America. Simply because there are brutal police incidents. Bombings of Negro properties such as homes, churches than any other city. And colored people are treated unjustly in courts. Thus with these things happening in Birmingham, King went there to get justice for the oppressed, because he believes that their individual civil rights are…

    • 1468 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Martin Luther King Jr.'s letter from Birmingham Jail was written on April 16, 1963 while he was incarcerated in the Birmingham City Jail. This letter addresses the criticism that a group of white men had thrown at him and his pro-black American organization about their non-violent actions against racial discrimination and injustice among black Americans in Birmingham. He notes that he doesn’t usually respond to letters of criticism but he thought that they were “good willed people and their criticism was sincerely set forth.” King writes this letter to defend his organization's actions. King's letter talks about…

    • 323 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Civil Rights advocate, Martin Luther King Jr., in his ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’, discusses the cruelty and unjust consequences black people endure while acknowledging the inequity of their undying patience in chapter fourteen. King’s purpose is to address the atrocious situations that African Americans undergo in order to establish a strong argument while defending the importance of civil rights. King creates a different perspective for the clergymen. In addition, King adopts a skeptical and serious tone as he emphasizes the how distressing the unkind acts towards the blacks are in reality, allowing the clergymen to understand the ongoing problem.…

    • 357 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In his “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” Martin Luther King Jr. uses rhetoric to persuade readers into supporting his cause. His letter addresses white men questioning his actions, though his message is for gaining supporters throughout America. Addressing the criticism of white men questioning and criticizing his recent behaviors, he begins explaining the motives behind his actions, their justification, and his next endeavors to rid America of its social injustices.…

    • 185 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    After the Birmingham, Alabama newspaper published "The Public Statement by Eight Alabama Clergymen" calling Martin Luther King Jr.'s activities "unwise and untimely," King wrote a response back from jail arguing each point the clergymen had made in their "Public Statement." In the "Letter from Birmingham Jail," King points out that he is not an outsider since the people of Birmingham invited him and that since they are all within the United States, nobody should be even considered an outsider. Being a fighter of injustice, King says, he sought to negotiate with the white community of Birmingham, but they refused to comply. Then, he illustrates to them that the tension amongst the groups is many times good because it leads to action and negotiation.…

    • 1495 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    It has been sixty years since the Civil Rights movement began. During that time, Civil Rights activists were attempting to combat injustices and discrimination throughout the South and other parts of America. Since its end in 1968, many Americans think that there has been real progress made in regards to the issue of injustices in America. A poll conducted in June of 2014 found that nearly eight in ten Americans think there has been real progress made since the 1960s in ridding the country of discrimination. While the fight against injustice and discrimination was raging, one man was on the front line leading the battle, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. King, though extremely passionate about his cause, was non-violent in his approach to attaining his objectives of justifying his cause, demonstrating the trials of African Americans in America, and arguing that immediate action is paramount. While in a…

    • 547 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    King stated in his letter that, “‘Wait’ has almost always meant ‘Never’”(par. 11), so they must begin to take action in a lickety-split manner. This means that African Americans must demand their freedom now instead of waiting for it to be given voluntarily because ultimately, if they continue to wait, they will have to wait forever. This is evident because King stated, “It is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say, ‘"Wait’"(par.11). This means that the whites have never been “Humiliated day in and day out by nagging signs reading ‘white’ and ‘colored’... Living constantly at tiptoe stance, knowing what to expect next, plagued with inner fears and outer resentments; Fighting a degenerating sense of ‘nobodyness’”(par. 11), meaning that the whites had never…

    • 1359 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Martin Luther King Jr. wrote “Letter from Birmingham Jail” to church leaders and minorities. Even though MLK directed the letter to only the church leaders, I felt emotions and empowerment from reading it in the present. Imagine how much motivation and awareness the unfairly treated minorities got back then from reading this letter. His letter was basically about segregation and the negative effects it has in the world. He wanted to make aware of why segregation is not needed and how it affected many people outside of those who are not affected. MLK had no “actual” support from the view of white people because all his supporters were basically minorities who were wrongly treated. He didn’t really have leaders or impactful people who sided with…

    • 413 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    He effectively makes and develops his argument by announcing King's death and mentioning all the problems that is plaguing the U.S. He states that Martin Luther King Jr. has passed away, and he continues to say that with his death. We should learn to love and to give justice, It says on paragraph 3,"Martin Luther King dedicated his life to love and to justice between fellow human beings. He died in the cause of that effort." He continues to develop his argument by mentioning that you can be bitter and hate him. He then said how the country would be, if they would continue the they are doing their things. He then mentions the death of a family member, and mentions how he was killed by a white man. He gives his favorite poet and asks everyone to say a prayer.…

    • 350 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    On April 16, 1963, from the jail of Birmingham, Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote an extensive letter to eight clergymen who attacked his work for civil rights in a public statement released on April 12, 1963. Martin Luther King, Jr. aimed this letter at those eight leaders of the white Church of the South. However, the eight clergymen's letter and the response from Martin Luther King, Jr. were publicly published. Martin Luther King, Jr. wanted to convince of the utility of his commitment in this particular area at this specific moment. To persuade his readers, Martin Luther King, Jr. appeals to his own reputation and wisdom. Second, he tries to arouse sympathy in the readers to influence them emotionally. Finally, he appeals to logic, supported with evidence and citations from influential thinkers.…

    • 633 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King Jr, responded to a letter by clergymen that were claiming Dr. King’s movement was untimely, extreme, and violent. In King’s response, he addresses their commentaries by quoting known religious figures to appeal to the clergymen's religious ties. He mentions that many talk about how this nonviolent movement is “untimely’, and that that has been the case for centuries. Dr. King alluded that for many years African Americans have been told to wait for their rights. White moderates being the greatest “stumbling block” for African Americans stride to freedom; not because they reject the idea of equality, but on the account that they believe they “can set the timetable for…

    • 883 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The struggle for civil rights and civil liberty by African American in the United States of America brought about some of the darkest days in American history. Till this day, majority of Americans regardless of race or color look back at that period with regret. Dr Martin Luther King, a prominent leader in the civil rights movement was persecuted by his oppressors but he persevered relentlessly in the fight for equal rights for African Americans mainly because we were fighting for a just cause. The letter from Birmingham Jail is a response by Dr King to statements by eight Alabama Clergymen denouncing the use of street protests by Dr King’s organization in the fight for civil liberty. Critics of Dr King’s philosophy on civil disobedience argue that the actions of his organization…

    • 816 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    In paragraph three, King compares himself the the Apostle Paul. King comparing himself to the Apostle Paul supports his reason for going to Birmingham because just like Paul did, King did which was preach the gospel. In paragraph three of the Letter to Birmingham Jail it says, “Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the Greco-Roman world, so am I. compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my home town. Like Paul, I must constantly respond to Macedonian call for aid.” So, this is saying how King is there because he wants to preach how freedom belongs to everybody not just from Atlanta which was where he was born and raised, but all over the United States just like how Paul preached the gospel. This impacts the tone of the text because it shows just how much of a good person King is. He is taking his own time to tell people what’s right and what is wrong and how he wants to help people gain freedom. From this, I can infer that King had good intentions in going from town to town helping the people. I can also infer that his audience was wondering why he was there and if he was doing this to help them or not because King had to keep explaining why he was…

    • 919 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays