In “My Dungeon Shook: A Letter to My Nephew” and “A Letter from Birmingham Jail,” James Baldwin and Martin Luther King Jr. write about the racial tension of their time, respectively. It is essential to note that the nephew, James, is a mean through which Baldwin addresses African Americans. In a similar manner, King addresses white moderates by directing his letter towards a particular group of Birmingham clergymen. Both authors utilize allusion and tone to subtly encourage their respective audience to challenge the limiting societal and cultural practices of the time. King, however, offers a concrete approach; while Baldwin offer an abstract approach that African-American can take to face the limitation and discriminations. Both
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As a matter of fact, Baldwin outlines a rather abstract approach. He urges his intended audience to not only be forgiving, but also resilient their hard work will ultimately pay off. This is suggested by the fact that he created an encouraging tone to state: “there is no limit to where you can go” and “you have, and many of us have, defeated this intention,” (8-9). The aforementioned idea is further suggested by the fact that Baldwin alluded to a poet, who explained: “the very time I thought I was lost, my dungeon shook and my chains fell off,” (9). King, on the other hand, outlines a concrete approach. He urges his intended audience to acknowledge that there are discriminatory practices in the society and to inhibit it, physical actions must be taken. King attempted to encourage the readers by alluding to the individuals, whose civil disobedience was considered to be a positive action. “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,” the “Christians,” and “Socrates” are examples of such individuals (12). Furthermore, King also alluded to the discrimination faced by Jews during Nazi Germany to suggest that “I believe I would openly advocate disobeying these anti-religious laws,” (12). This signifies that King’s approach is to take actions, as opposed to tolerating the limitations and
As a matter of fact, Baldwin outlines a rather abstract approach. He urges his intended audience to not only be forgiving, but also resilient their hard work will ultimately pay off. This is suggested by the fact that he created an encouraging tone to state: “there is no limit to where you can go” and “you have, and many of us have, defeated this intention,” (8-9). The aforementioned idea is further suggested by the fact that Baldwin alluded to a poet, who explained: “the very time I thought I was lost, my dungeon shook and my chains fell off,” (9). King, on the other hand, outlines a concrete approach. He urges his intended audience to acknowledge that there are discriminatory practices in the society and to inhibit it, physical actions must be taken. King attempted to encourage the readers by alluding to the individuals, whose civil disobedience was considered to be a positive action. “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,” the “Christians,” and “Socrates” are examples of such individuals (12). Furthermore, King also alluded to the discrimination faced by Jews during Nazi Germany to suggest that “I believe I would openly advocate disobeying these anti-religious laws,” (12). This signifies that King’s approach is to take actions, as opposed to tolerating the limitations and