Letter from a Birmingham Jail, by Martin Luther King Jr., is a response to a group of Alabama clergymen, who critique King’s actions in protesting racial segregation and injustice in Birmingham. I Lost My Talk, by Rita Joe, is a poem that uses an extended metaphor to highlight the identity crisis of many Aboriginal people who grew up within the residential school system. Both poems, through the use of the three persuasive appeals, logos, ethos, and pathos, and by addressing their opposition, seek to encourage racial reform.
Logos, King’s most frequent persuasive appeal in the letter, is critical to establishing himself as a voice of reason. Throughout the article, he rationally explains the reasoning behind the need for action in Birmingham. Early in his letter, he begins by …show more content…
King establishes his credibility throughout his letter on multiple levels. Beginning with “My Dear Fellow Clergymen,” (King, 1963, p.1), he authorizes himself as a respected voice. Furthermore, with his specific audience in mind, King alludes several time to historical biblical events, making his appeal one with which they are unable to argue. In response to their allegations of his extreme actions, he questions “was not Jesus an extremist?” (King, 1963, p.8) effectively changing the connotation of the word. The cultural belief of our time makes King’s ethical message prevalent throughout the entire article, as we believe that all races should be treated as equals. In 1963, however, the cultural belief was quite different. King is deliberately clear and straightforward as he highlights injustices such as police brutality, systemic poverty, and racial slurs, and pairs the examples with a powerful anaphora of “when you” to build tension and desperation. Ethically, King’s argument is flawless, for he maintains himself as a qualified voice as he challenges the
Logos, King’s most frequent persuasive appeal in the letter, is critical to establishing himself as a voice of reason. Throughout the article, he rationally explains the reasoning behind the need for action in Birmingham. Early in his letter, he begins by …show more content…
King establishes his credibility throughout his letter on multiple levels. Beginning with “My Dear Fellow Clergymen,” (King, 1963, p.1), he authorizes himself as a respected voice. Furthermore, with his specific audience in mind, King alludes several time to historical biblical events, making his appeal one with which they are unable to argue. In response to their allegations of his extreme actions, he questions “was not Jesus an extremist?” (King, 1963, p.8) effectively changing the connotation of the word. The cultural belief of our time makes King’s ethical message prevalent throughout the entire article, as we believe that all races should be treated as equals. In 1963, however, the cultural belief was quite different. King is deliberately clear and straightforward as he highlights injustices such as police brutality, systemic poverty, and racial slurs, and pairs the examples with a powerful anaphora of “when you” to build tension and desperation. Ethically, King’s argument is flawless, for he maintains himself as a qualified voice as he challenges the