Similarities Between Martin Luther King And I Have A Dream Speech

He wrote “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” and wrote his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. He was an American Baptist minister and activist who became the biggest visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement. This man is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In both of his writings, he used pathos and logos to appeal to the audience and fit the occasion, so that he can make the people do something about segregation and defend his ideas in an effective way. If he would not have spoken up and had influenced people to follow him, the world could have ended up still being segregated today. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. used pathos and logos in his speech to draw in people so he can make them act and he used pathos and ethos in his letter to defend …show more content…
used logos and pathos in his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” but for very different reasons than in his “I Have a Dream Speech.” In this letter, he is trying to defend himself against eight white clergymen who think his recent actions are “unwise and untimely.” For this reason, he must use logic to help defend himself, not to get people to move and take action like in his speech, when he writes, “...direct action…for the Easter season, realizing that except for Christmas…main shopping period...Knowing that a strong economic-withdrawal...be the by-product…we felt that this would be the best time to bring pressure to bear on the merchants for the needed change.” (King para. 8) By writing this, he explained his action and gives a valid reason to back-up his thoughts behind it all, to show that it made sense and was not “unwise and untimely.” He knew if all the black people didn't shop during that season, it would hurt businesses. Then, merchants would have no other choice but to make something happen in order to get more customers, which would mean helping the black people. This way, King used his knowledge to help his side in a very logical and timely way. In addition to using logic, he appealed to emotion too, but for the reason of defending, rather than getting people to take action like in his speech. King goes on to write that “… policemen… ugly and inhumane treatment of Negroes here in the city jail;…push and curse old Negro women and young Negro girls;…slap and kick old Negro men and young boys; …refuse to give us food because we wanted to sing our grace together.” (King para. 44) In writing this, he defended his fellow black brothers and sisters because the clergymen also write about how the Birmingham police are doing a great job with keeping peace and order. This is not the case, though, they treat them like they would a white person in public when arresting them, but when they are in private, they beat and abuse the black