Malcolm X, on the other hand, grew up in a rather hostile environment with barely enough schooling. In sum, all rhetoric has an external situation in which it is responding to. With this addressed, his audience was truly the population of the United States, especially Birmingham, with a focus on those who withheld and complied with the oppression of African American citizens, even if not intentionally. 25 terms. King defends his primary thesis all throughout the length of his letter, and the arguments that he has made to prove that his thesis is true and valid will be the focus of this rhetorical analysis. : "There can be no gainsaying the fact that racial injustice engulfs this community." . In paragraph 15 of his "Letter from Birmingham Jail", Martin Luther King uses parallel structure to compare just and unjust laws. In response to Kings peaceful protesting, the white community viewed [his] nonviolent efforts as those of an extremist, and subsequently imprisoned the pastor (para 27). His Letter from Birmingham Jail is a work that he wrote while incarcerated in the Birmingham City Jail in response to criticism from Alabama clergymen. Dr. King often used repetition and parallel construction to great emotional effect when he spoke. Parallelism, in the way King uses it, connects what seems like small problems to a larger issue. Ralph Abernathy (center) and the Rev. By clicking Receive Essay, you agree to our, Essay Sample on The Effects of the Atomic Bomb, Essay Sample: The Development of the Braille System in Nineteenth-Century France, Constitution of The United StatesResearch Paper Example, Hippies In The 1960's (Free Essay Sample), Positive And Negative Impacts Of The Columbian Exchange, Essay Sample on Early River Civilizations. Parallelism In Letters From Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King Jr. uses pathos and parallelism frequently throughout Letters from Birmingham Jail, to persuade the clergyman to support his actions in the civil rights movement. He writes of his own problems that may apply to the daily struggles of the abused African, Parallelism In Speech From Birmingham Jail, Throughout the speech, another scheme King uses frequently is parallelism, the strategy of repeating similar clauses, several times. King says on page. Martin Luther utilizes powerful rhetoric to define his exigence. Correspondingly, King urges the clergy to reconsider the horse-and-buggy pace of their methods of action through his logos. He is placing hope among the Negro community and assuring the white superiority that one day, they will share the same rights as their nation distinctively promised a hundred years earlier. King uses pathos to invoke anger, sympathy and empathy, his impeccable use of logos makes his argument rational to everyone, and his use of ethos, especially the use of biblical references, makes his opinions more reliable. Pathos are present more often in the I Have A Dream speech, mainly because he is bravely facing a crowd, speaking from the heart, rather than formality. Martin Luther King's 'Letter From Birmingham Jail' 16 terms. Letter from Birmingham Jail; McAuley ELA I HON. It was important for King to address this audience as their support would ultimately make the largest difference in the movement. While there were consistent and impactful efforts made by various groups for equality throughout the civil rights era, the proximity between the public release of the letter, found nation-wide by late 1963, and the passing of the Civil Rights Act in early July 1964 shows the direct impact the letter had on social attitudes following its publicization. His expressive language and use of argumentation make his case strong and convincing. When King was making his mark in American history, the United States was experiencing great social unrest due to the injustice towards their colored citizens, which would lead to social rights rallies and unnecessary violence. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America till the Negro is granted his citizenship rights (King pg. Writers commonly use parallelism when there is a pair or a series of elements, or in the headlines or outlines of a document. Martin Luther King Jr.s Letter from Birmingham Jail.. First, King writes that the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. This antithesis makes the audience realize that the Negroes have been left behind and ignored while the rest of modern society has charged forward into prosperity and fortune. This letter occasioned his reply and caused King to write a persuasive letter "Letter from Birmingham Jail," justifying his actions and presence in Birmingham. It is rather for us to be here, As it may do that, it also seems to serve more of a logical appeal because he mentions the evidence of white brotherhood. One example of Kings use of pathos appeals to the audiences emotions by showing Kings confidence in his endeavors. In his tear-jerking, mind-opening letter, King manages to completely discredit every claim made by the clergymen while keeping a polite and formal tone. He also wants the readers to realize that negroes are not to be mistreated and that the mistreatment of negroes could have severe implications as in a violent protest against the laws made by the court. He said that one day we won 't have to worry about our skin color and segregation and that we 'll all come together as one. Through the masterful use of analogies and undeniable examples of injustice, Kings disgruntled response to the clergies proves the justification for direct action taking place to establish equality for African Americans., Martin Luther Kings letter from Birmingham Jail was written to respond to white religious leaders who criticized his organizations actions against racial prejudice and injustice among black society in Birmingham. Dr. King was considered the most prominent and persuasive man of The Civil Rights Movement. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust(Barnet and Bedau 742). Constraints bring light to the obstacles this rhetoric may face, whether it be social, political, economical, etc. To summarize, Martin Luther Kings rhetoric is effective and ultimately changed the course of the Civil Rights movement for the better. 114, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40236733. Kings decision to compare his efforts to those of biblical figures with shared intent was a deliberate attempt to find common ground with his initial readers, the eight religious Birmingham clergymen, through the faith of a shared religion. Furthermore, Dr. King had four steps to achieve his goals by collecting facts, negotiation, self-purification, and direct, Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" is a response to Dr. King's follow clergymen criticism. Likewise, King creates logos as he employs another antithetical statement that demonstrates the timeliness of his argument: Never voluntarily given by the oppressor must be demanded by the oppressed; Jet-like speed horse-and-buggy pace (518). In Martin Luther Kings Jr, Letter from Birmingham Jail the letter was a persuasive attempt to get Americans to finally see the inequality in the United States of America. King uses parallelism to add balance and rhythm to his rhetoric. King responds with complete confidence that he is in the right place at the right time, and that his actions are necessary. If your first two elements are verbs, the third element is usually a verb, too. King understood that if he gained support from the white American, the civil rights movement would reach its goals much faster. The following well-known adage is an example of parallelism: "Give a . 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. As mentioned before, the social and political ideologies in America surrounding racial equity at this time, specifically in Birmingham, were extremely poor. Back then, people were ready to oppose unjust laws that were causing inequality and preventing progress. King through this letter tries to express his, "Martin Luther King Jr.'s letter from Birmingham Jail, which was written in April 16, 1963, is a passionate letter that addresses and responds to the issue and criticism that a group of white clergymen had thrown at him and his pro- black American organization about his and his organization's non- violent demonstrative actions against racial prejudice and injustice among black Americans in Birmingham. However, in the months that followed, Kings powerful words were distributed to the public through civil rights committees, the press, and was even read in testimony before Congress (Letter from Birmingham Jail), taking the country by storm. He seeks to make them see the logic behind their protesting and make them feel ashamed and embarrassed by the way that they have been treating the African Americans. Dr. King fought against segregation between Black Americans and White Americans. His writing is respectful and educated, if not naturally, to invalidate the use of his race against him by the largely prejudiced audience. By addressing his respect for the clergymen, feigned or not, he is acknowledging the effectiveness of respect to those in power, whether they may or may not deserve it. , vol. for only $11.00 $9.35/page. Although the letter was addressed to the eight clergymen, the Letter from Birmingham Jail speaks to a national audience. The letter goes on to explain his choice to act directly and nonviolently, stating, For years now I have heard the word wait. It rings in the ear of every Negro with a piercing familiarity. The letter was addressed to clergymen who had criticized King and made many claims against him. What type/s of rhetorical device is used in this statement? Dr. King wrote, This wait has almost always meant never. This is why Dr. king addresses this matter in a letter about the battle of segregation. In Martin Luther King Jr.s Letter From Birmingham Jail and I Have a Dream speech he uses many different rhetorical devices. Within the article, the clergymen provide nine different critiques that asserted how Kings protest are invalid, uneffective, and simply unintelligent in the fight for obtaining justice and equity for individuals of color. Though this letter was intended for the judgemental and condescending men of high faith, his response touched the hearts and minds of the entire U.S. population, then, and for years to come. Dr. King repeats the same starting words when you have seen with different examples of injustices. the exigence is the continued condemnation, segregation, and prejudice afflicted against African Americans since the emancipation of the slaves in 1863. His audience ranged between those who his message empowered, a radical positive force, and those who disagreed, made up of southern states, extremist groups, and the majority of American citizens stuck in their racial prejudices. These circumstances lead us to our next rhetorical focus: audience. Martin Luther King responds to the subjectivity of law and the issue he paramounts by using precise and impactful rhetoric from inside of his jail cell. Martin Luther King Jr. was born to a middle class family and was well educated. How does this comparison appropriately justify. Letter from Birmingham Jail: Repetition BACK NEXT This guy knew how to write a speech. , 29 May 2019, https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/letter-birmingham-jail. The problem is that this kind of thinking can spread and infect other people to believe this is acceptable. Parallelism is a figure of speech in which two or more elements of a sentence (or series of sentences) have the same grammatical structure. Therefore, as King fabricates antithetic parallelism, he constructs logos and persuades the audience to take prompt action against injustice through the careful juxtaposition of inverse statements. To minimize the possibility of being deemed invalid due to his race, he must choose what he states and how he states it very precisely which correlates to the constraints Martin Luther himself has on his rhetorical situation. The constraints surrounding Martin Luther Kings rhetorical situation include the audience, the rhetorical exigence of the situation he is responding to, Dr. King himself, and the medium, all of which are deeply connected. In Martin Luther King Jrs I Have a Dream speech he effectively uses ethos, diction and powerful metaphors to express the brutality endured by African American people. Right after that, he alludes to another American writing, the Declaration of. Similarly, King uses pathos to trigger the emotional . His writing is respectful and educated, if not naturally, to invalidate the use of his race against him by the largely prejudiced audience. In short, Martin Luther King Jr. includes rhetorical devices in his writing. Jr., Martin Luther King. The biases of the audience go hand in hand with the rhetorical exigence of this letter, another large constraint in the effectiveness of his message. The eight clergymen in Birmingham released a public statement of caution regarding the protesters actions as unwise and untimely (King 1), to which Martins letter is a direct response. King specifically wrote to the white clergymen who had earlier addressed a letter to him as to why he was apprehended, in which they argued that his actions were untimely and unconstitutional. In the beginning of the speech, King goes back to the Constitution and Declaration of Independence stating that .all men, black or white, were to be granted the same rights (Declaration of Independence). In 1963, while Martin Luther King was in Birmingham Jail, King delivered a powerful letter to his Clergymen in order to take time and respond to the criticism he had received over his work in Birmingham. Although Kings reply was addressed to the Alabama clergyman, its target audience was the white people. During the era of the civil rights movements in the 60s, among the segregation, racism, and injustice against the blacks, Martin Luther King Jr. stood at the Lincoln Memorial to deliver one of the greatest public speeches for freedom in that decade. The way Dr. King constructs his argument is as if he was preaching his argument to his congregation. Who was he truly writing for? Letter to Birmingham Jail is a response to a group of Birmingham ministers who voiced negative comments and questioned the civil rights demonstrations Dr. King was leading in Birmingham. Kings arguments induce an emotional response in his readers. King wants to bring to the readers realization the fact that laws are only to be followed when they are rightfully just and correct. Despite his opposition, however, the letter is truly addressed to those who were not against King, but did not understand the urgency of his movement. " Any law that degrades human personality is unjust." Good uses of similes, metaphors, and imagery will act on the reader's senses creating a false sense of perception. But the strongest influential device King used was pathos. Active Themes. 808 certified writers . Throughout the work, Letter from Bimingham Jail, Martin Luther constantly uses examples from historical figures in order to unite his argument that action must be taken in order to end discrimination and segregation. For example, to use parallelism in a sentence in which you list a series of elements, each element typically has the same form. While his letter was only addressed to the clergymen, it is safe to assume that King had intent on the public eventually reading his letter, considering his position within the Civil Rights movement, use of persuasive rhetorical language, and hard-hitting debates on the justification of law. Martin Luther King Jr. displays pathos by targeting the audiences emotion by talking about his American dream that could also be other peoples too. King does this in an effective and logical way. His Letter from Birmingham Jail was the match. While this fight had been raging for nearly 10 years, the release in 1963 was shortly followed by the Civil Rights Act in 1964. Parallelism/ Juxtaposition. Letter from Birmingham Jail is addressed to clergymen who had written an open letter criticizing the actions of Martin Luther King, Jr. during several protest in, Letter from Birmingham Jail is a letter written by Martin Luther King, Jr. while he was in jail for participating in peaceful protest against segregation. King was the figurehead of the Civil Rights movement, infamous for his I Have a Dream speech and substantially impactful rhetoric promoting social and political change, peaceful indignation, and calls to awareness. The first to come to mind for most would be civil rights activism, as he was an instrumental figure in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. We believe that King states in the first sentence himself that he does not usually comment upon the criticism of his work. There are three main considerations to make while analysing a rhetorical situation: the constraints, the exigence, and the audience. His letter has become one of the most profound pieces of literature of the 20th century, as King uses vivid examples and eloquent rhetorical devices to counter all nine arguments. The continuous mistreatment of African Americans for over a century was, at last, deeply questioned and challenged nationwide with the growing popularity of the Civil Rights movement, and the topic of equality for all had divided the country. To get a high-quality original essay, click here. 1, no. was initially the eight clergymen of Birmingham, all white and in positions of religious leadership. " A just law is man made code that squares with the moral law or the law of the god. Wiki User 2013-03-13 02:55:46 Study now See answer (1) Copy "One has not only legal but moral responsibility to obey just. This exigence is rhetorical because it can be improved if enough people are socially cognizant, whether that be in legislature or the streets of Birmingham, through creation and enforcement of equitable laws and social attitudes. To truly understand the effectiveness of this letter, one must rhetorically analyse the contents. Take for instance when the part of the letter when Dr. King talks about different men, both biblical, Martin Luther King Jr.s goal in Letter From Birmingham Jail is to convince the people of Birmingham that they should support civil disobedience and the eventual end to the segregation laws in Birmingham. Dr. King was arrested, and put in jail in Birmingham where he wrote a letter to the clergymen telling them how long Blacks were supposed to wait for their God giving rights and not to be force and treated differently after, In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote Letter from Birmingham Jail from jail in Birmingham, Alabama in response to a public statement issued by eight white clergyman calling his actions unwise and untimely. He deliberately tries to make the audience feel as if racial segregation is both wrong and against basic morals. There are people in the white community that are already standing hand-in-hand with them and their dreams. Introduction. The main argument Dr. King is making in the letter is the protest being done in Birmingham is "wise" and most important "timely". However, Martin Luther King Jr is an extremely influential figure in the field of oration and rhetoric. Despite his support, Martin Luthers audience is one of the largest constraints in his rhetorical situation. and may encompass the audience, as seen while analysing Letter From Birmingham Jail. Who had criticize Martin Luther King because he was simply doing something that was right and violence was not needed for King. Specifically he targeted the clergymen who made laws at that time. What are some examples of parallelism in letter from Birmingham jail? Martin Luther King Jr., with the Rev. Here, King offers disparate hypotheticals to illustrate the necessity for brevity in his acts. Despite this, the clergy never questions whether or not segregation is unjust. However, this constraint did not ultimately halt the spread of Kings message nation-wide, as it became a persuasive landmark of the civil rights movement, likely due to both his impactful position and persuasive use of rhetoric. These encompass his exigence, at its most simple and precise, and validify the importance behind transforming the country in a positive way. The topic of Dr. Kings letters from a Birmingham prison is the nonviolent protest being done in Birmingham, Alabama in the fight for African Americans civil rights. In his letter King effectively manipulates language and tone to strengthen his argument against the complaints of the clergyman and successfully address the white people. He uses the rhetorical appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos numerous times throughout his essay to relay his argument about the laws of segregation and the African-Americans that are being cruelly treated.. He displays a great amount of pathos, logos, and ethos in his speech. Parallelism is a literary device in itself, but it is also a category under which other figures of speech fall, such as those mentioned previously. Order can only be held for so long whilst injustice is around. Dr. King goes on to say that laws that do not match what the Bible says are unjust. In. The law was written in 1962, but the powerful response pushed the courts to finalize their decision. In both of these writings Dr. King uses logos - logical persuasion - and pathos - emotional appeal - to change the opinions of people who were for segregation and against civil rights. I am here because I have basic organizational ties here (King 1), after describing his involvement in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference as president. Throughout the letter, Dr. King does a tremendous job of supporting his argument with the three elements of Aristotles rhetorical appeal. Early in his speech, King writes riches of freedom and security of justice and then justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream. In these two examples, King is using parallelism to express that the African American wants justice and freedom by repeating them next to each other and mentally connecting them in the readers mind, which is also connected with pathos as the terms King uses subtly emphasize those words and create good feelings in the reader. He ended up creating a very persuasive letter, one that effectively uses ethos in establishing his character, logos in providing reason and logic, and pathos in reaching human emotions. King implies that one day, all, I Have a Dream, however, played a major step into changing it. His goal is to make the clergymen help him fight racial equality. Additionally, personable elements such as tone, inflection, and overall vindication behind the letter are left to be determined by the rhetorical language. Order original paper now and save your time! It elucidated the exigence behind his letter as his presented rationale behind his arrest only made unjust laws appear more asinine and questionable by relation. Civil rights is an emotional subject for those who were affected by it, and MLK is proving his argument on civil disobedience. In any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self-purification; and direct action. In this way, King asserts that African-Americans must act with jet-like speed to gain their independence. In order to do this, Martin Luther King uses several techniques in paragraph thirteen and fourteen of his letter such as repetition, personification, as well as allusion, to support his claim that racial unity has taken too long. In A Letter From A Birmingham Jail Martin Luther King Jr defends his use of nonviolent protest in order to accomplish racial equality. The law was written in 1962, but the powerful response pushed the courts to finalize their decision. Divided there is little we can dofor we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder." - John F. Kennedy, "1961 First Inaugural Address" The use of pathos is effective because it appeals to emotions and the issue of civil rights and civil disobedience. In the same manner, King believed that people could unite to combat oppression. This essay was written by a fellow student. Overall, King is saying that we need to fight against injustice anywhere we see it,, In April of 1963, while incarcerated in Birmingham City jail, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote an influential letter defending his anti-segregation protests. In response, King emphasized that justice is never timely, and the refusal to acknowledge equal rights was inhumane and regressive. King is not speaking only of racism; he is speaking of injustice in general. In the Letter from Birmingham Jail written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., King addressed the concerns of the white clergy and gave support to the direct action committed by African Americans.
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