Theresa Magana
Ms. Nauls-Jones
AP English 3
26 November 2015
A Rhetorical Analysis of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s.
Letter from a Birmingham Jail Respected African American civil rights leader and Baptist minister, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in his letter, Letter from a Birmingham Jail, addresses the issue of social injustice associated with segregation. Dr. King’s purpose is to justify the need of non-violent direct action, the immorality of un-just laws, as well as the increasing bloodshed happening among fellow black citizens. He gives off a calm and steady tone to the several white clergy men who criticized Dr. King’s actions; he wishes to confront their concerns with his own reasoning. Dr. King opens his speech by recognizing that …show more content…
King speaks throughout the rest of his letter, he is successful in using all three appeals to support his argument. To start off, Dr. King uses the emotional appeal to attempt to get his readers to feel something. He says, “When you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six-year old daughter why she can’t go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told Fun Town is closed to colored children…” Secondly, Dr. King uses logical appeal when he provides facts and evidence in his appeal. He says, “in any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self-purification; and direct action. We have gone through all these steps in Birmingham. There can be no gainsaying the fact that racial injustice engulfs this community.” Dr. King may even seem like he’s educating the audience. Lastly, Dr. King uses an ethical appeal when “In no sense do I do I advocate evading or defying the law, as would the rabid segregationist. That would lead to anarchy. One who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty.” King continues, “There is nothing new about this type of kind of civil disobedience.” He cites the Hungarian freedom fighters confronting Adolph Hitler’s legal actions in Germany as
Ms. Nauls-Jones
AP English 3
26 November 2015
A Rhetorical Analysis of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s.
Letter from a Birmingham Jail Respected African American civil rights leader and Baptist minister, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in his letter, Letter from a Birmingham Jail, addresses the issue of social injustice associated with segregation. Dr. King’s purpose is to justify the need of non-violent direct action, the immorality of un-just laws, as well as the increasing bloodshed happening among fellow black citizens. He gives off a calm and steady tone to the several white clergy men who criticized Dr. King’s actions; he wishes to confront their concerns with his own reasoning. Dr. King opens his speech by recognizing that …show more content…
King speaks throughout the rest of his letter, he is successful in using all three appeals to support his argument. To start off, Dr. King uses the emotional appeal to attempt to get his readers to feel something. He says, “When you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six-year old daughter why she can’t go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told Fun Town is closed to colored children…” Secondly, Dr. King uses logical appeal when he provides facts and evidence in his appeal. He says, “in any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self-purification; and direct action. We have gone through all these steps in Birmingham. There can be no gainsaying the fact that racial injustice engulfs this community.” Dr. King may even seem like he’s educating the audience. Lastly, Dr. King uses an ethical appeal when “In no sense do I do I advocate evading or defying the law, as would the rabid segregationist. That would lead to anarchy. One who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty.” King continues, “There is nothing new about this type of kind of civil disobedience.” He cites the Hungarian freedom fighters confronting Adolph Hitler’s legal actions in Germany as