Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is an excellent example of an effective argument; it was written in response to an editorial addressing the issue of Negro demonstrations and segregation in Alabama at the time.
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This is from a first-hand perspective, and when I read the statement it impacted me in a way that made me wonder how another human being could ever think to treat a group of people in this way. It is emotional; it stirs sympathy in the hearts of the audience. I don’t think, however, that was King’s motive; He wanted to make his point why desegregation cannot wait. Of course King knows that this type of narrative will incite sympathy, but what he must relay to the audience is that this is his reality. Yes, this is an emotional appeal to the audience, but more so, this is King’s life. This is the life of every other Negro at the time, and no one is …show more content…
He includes the steps for nonviolent campaigning, and then goes on to say that all of the steps have been taken and that the clergymen’s suggestion for negotiating circumstances were attempted, but botched on the white community’s part. This shows the Negroes’ willingness to cooperate with the white leadership on the part of fighting for desegregation, but that mainly the white leadership has not been cooperative. King also forces the clergymen to look at the causes of the demonstrations instead of just the effects. He even tells them, “I am sure that each of you would want to go beyond the superficial social analyst who looks merely at the effects, and does not grapple with underlying causes” (465). King points out causal fallacy in their argument, which is a fault in argument where one points out a doubtful cause. It can also be defined as post hoc, or “after this, therefore because of this.” King questions their logic, saying that they have taken all the necessary steps to negotiating with the white leadership, but that all promises have been broken. Here King is implying that maybe they need to look at the root of the cause instead of just placing blame on the Negroes, which requires the white audience to evaluate themselves before placing blame
This is from a first-hand perspective, and when I read the statement it impacted me in a way that made me wonder how another human being could ever think to treat a group of people in this way. It is emotional; it stirs sympathy in the hearts of the audience. I don’t think, however, that was King’s motive; He wanted to make his point why desegregation cannot wait. Of course King knows that this type of narrative will incite sympathy, but what he must relay to the audience is that this is his reality. Yes, this is an emotional appeal to the audience, but more so, this is King’s life. This is the life of every other Negro at the time, and no one is …show more content…
He includes the steps for nonviolent campaigning, and then goes on to say that all of the steps have been taken and that the clergymen’s suggestion for negotiating circumstances were attempted, but botched on the white community’s part. This shows the Negroes’ willingness to cooperate with the white leadership on the part of fighting for desegregation, but that mainly the white leadership has not been cooperative. King also forces the clergymen to look at the causes of the demonstrations instead of just the effects. He even tells them, “I am sure that each of you would want to go beyond the superficial social analyst who looks merely at the effects, and does not grapple with underlying causes” (465). King points out causal fallacy in their argument, which is a fault in argument where one points out a doubtful cause. It can also be defined as post hoc, or “after this, therefore because of this.” King questions their logic, saying that they have taken all the necessary steps to negotiating with the white leadership, but that all promises have been broken. Here King is implying that maybe they need to look at the root of the cause instead of just placing blame on the Negroes, which requires the white audience to evaluate themselves before placing blame