The Letter from Birmingham Jail

Letter from Birmingham Jail was written on April 16, 1963 by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It was written in response to the objections of white Confederate manpower. This garner explains Martin Luther Kings actions and tries to clarify and explain his protest for desegregation was required and decidedly not untimely. The letter explains why he was in jail, the wrongful acts against Afri jakes Americans during the civil rights era, and the use of direct action to make a difference. Dr Kings letter stands as a modern classic of argumentation parti every(prenominal)y collectable to his use of Aristotles three rhetorical attracts ethos, logos, and pathos.First of Aristotles three rhetorical appeals is ethos. Ethos is an appeal to the writers credibility. In Dr. Kings essay he use this appeal in this credit, But since I feel that you are men of genuine good will and that your criticisms are sincerely set forth, I want to try to answer your statement in what I want will be patient a nd reasonable terms. (p. 212). King felt it was necessary for non-violent approach to be taken sp that communication could open between the cardinal races. Through non-violent action, crisis is formed and communities are forced to confront the issue.King strongly believed the status needed to be discussed rather than left as it was. Aristotles gage appeal is logos. Logos is the appeal to logic. Martin Luther King was an excellent speaker and appealed to the rational side of most raft. His essay took his knowledge and his talent of persuasion and summed up what he was working for and what he believed in. In Kings speech he wrote this, How does adept determine whether a equity is honorable or unjust? A law is a manmade code that squares with the honorable law or law of god. An unjust law is a code out of harmony with the moral law. (p. 215-216).He shows the difference between just and unjust appealing to the readers logical side. King believes that justice too long is justi ce denied. granting immunity must be demanded by the oppressed because the oppressor never voluntarily gives it. Aristotles final rhetorical appeal is pathos. Pathos is the appeal to the readers emotion. In Kings Letter he wrote this, when you suddenly find your tongue perverted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six year oldish daughter why she cant go to the amusement part that has just been advertised on television, and tears welling up in her eyes (p. 215).This quote really tugs on the readers emotions as he/she can visualize the little girl starting to cry. Kings letter was intended to erase the clouds of racial prejudice and bring some consciousness of brotherhood to the communities throughout the Unites States. It is very difficult for a parent to film to tell their child they cannot do something because of the tinge of their skin. It is a shame that we were so hateful and small minded in the past, and all the suffering that had to observe before we finally realized that something so small as the color of your skin doesnt determine what kind of person someone is.King believes the sum of integration is universal and anyone who lives in the United States cannot be considered an outsider careless(predicate) of race, color, religion, or creed. In The Letter from Birmingham Jail King used all three of Aristotles rhetorical appeals for classical argument. King used ethos to appeal to the writers credibility logos to appeal to the writers logic and pathos to appeal to the writers emotion. Martin Luther Kings goals have been met, but only to some extent.This writer views his letter as an influential part of history and a dramatic event that changes the complaisant Rights Movement for the better. There is still hatred by some and disquietude which fuels hatred by others. Letter from Birmingham Jail attempts to make racist people understand Kings urge for desegregation. He demonstrates the purpose bed the protest and its urgency by various examples throughout the letter. Its just so unfortunate that still today we have such(prenominal) small minded people even after Dr. Kings powerful letter.