On April 16, 1963, DR. Martin Luther King, Jr responded in the newspaper which had been written by some clergymen urging him to abandon the demonstrations which he was leading in Birmingham. Several months ago our local affiliate here in Birmingham invited us to be on call to engage in a nonviolent direct action program if such were deemed necessary. It is true that they have been rather disciplined in their public handling of the demonstrators. I am here because I have basic organizational ties here. In particular, issues of race and racial prejudice have had a massive impact on the cultural dynamics of society. This item is part of a JSTOR Collection. I had hoped that each of you would understand. If his repressed emotions do not come out in these nonviolent ways, they will come out in ominous expressions of violence. Kairos is a rhetorical strategy that considers the timeliness of an argument or message, and its place in the zeitgeist. Martin Luther Kings Letter from Birmingham Jail is the most important written document of the civil rights era. We will write an essay sample crafted to your needs. I guess I should have realized that few members of a race that has oppressed another race can understand or appreciate the deep groans and passionate yearnings of those that have been oppressed, and still fewer have the vision to see that injustice must be rooted out by strong, persistent, and determined action. LoveAllPeople.org. This is not a threat; it is a fact of history. In simple terms, it is to force the Whites until they accept to come to the table of negotiation. If I lived in a communist country today where certain principles dear to the Christian faith are suppressed, I believe I would openly advocate disobeying these anti-religious laws. We can never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was legal and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was illegal. It was illegal to aid and comfort a Jew in Hitlers Germany. WebIn the opening pages of "A Letter from Birmingham Jail," Martin Luther King Jr. is discussing his situation and the kairos, or the opportune moment, for his civil rights campaign. We have some eighty-five affiliate organizations all across the Southone being the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights. So I have tried to make it clear that it is wrong to use immoral means to attain moral ends. I think I should give the reason for my being in Birmingham, since you have been influenced by the argument of outsiders coming in. I have the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization operating in every Southern state with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. It was practiced superbly by the early Christians who were willing to face hungry lions and the excruciating pain of chopping blocks, before submitting to certain unjust laws of the Roman Empire. I am thankful, however, that some of our white brothers have grasped the meaning of this social revolution and committed themselves to it. WebIn Martin Luther Kings A Letter from Birmingham Jail, the rhetorical appeals of kairos, logos and especially pathos are implied heavily throughout the piece, effectively First, I must confess that over the last few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. Ed. Birmingham, Alabama, was known for its intense segregation and attempts to combat said racism during this time period. King responded to their accusations by writing a Letter from Birmingham Jail. In Melvin in the Sixth Grade by Dana Johnson, the main, Dr. King was an American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the Civil Rights Movement from 1954 through 1968. Kairos is a unique opening or opportunity in the flow of events when something can be accomplished. It argues that Kings "Letter" was an essential response for civil rights to continue as a mass movement in Birmingham and beyond. Im grateful to God that, through the Negro church, the dimension of nonviolence entered our struggle. Some like Ralph McGill, Lillian Smith, Harry Golden, and James Dabbs have written about our struggle in eloquent, prophetic, and understanding terms. Also, in the Letter from Birmingham Jail ethos is seen at the start of another argument: Just as Socrates felt. King is trying to expose that he, and his organization, are not the only ones that see the need for nonviolent gadflies to create the kind of tension in society that will help men rise from the dark depths of prejudice. This example of ethos helps convey his reasonability in the matter, and add to his credibility for when he talks about his matters of direct action. I had hoped that the white moderate would understand that the present tension in the South is merely a necessary phase of the transition from an obnoxious negative peace, where the Negro passively accepted his unjust plight, to a substance-filled positive peace, where all men will respect the dignity and worth of human personality. In the Birmingham letter, the King employs refutation throughout the letter to defend his course of action and to the larger extent that of his organization. In this, the author purposes to depict his understanding of important events and the respect he and his organization bestow on crucial matters of the society. 2023 EduBirdie.com. For example, humans did not believe the earth was round until proof came out that it was true. After highlighting his non-violence approaches to condemning discriminative rules, the author states that if this philosophy (of nonviolence) had not emerged, by now many streets of the South would, I am convinced, be flowing with blood (King 4). "When you take a cross-country drive and find it necessary to sleep night after night in the uncomfortable corners of your automobile because. The king also uses another ethos by stating that Just as Socrates felt to sensitive the fact that it is not only him who is feeling the need to use non-violent means to condemn the increased discrimination of black Americans (King, 2). Recognizing this vital urge that has engulfed the Negro community, one should readily understand public demonstrations. Formerly a separate municipality, it is now incorporated in the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan The urge for freedom will eventually come. He starts off by talking about events that he, and the people he is writing to, share. In this, it is good to note that priest are usually trusted and more so respected something which gives them an automatic embodiment of ethos. In this, the author states that nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and establish such creative tension that a community that has consistently refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue (King 2). Graduated from ENSAT (national agronomic school of Toulouse) in plant sciences in 2018, I pursued a CIFRE doctorate under contract with SunAgri and INRAE in Avignon between 2019 and 2022. He explains that he has been arrested and imprisoned in Birmingham, Alabama, for leading nonviolent protests against racial segregation. The other force is one of bitterness and hatred and comes perilously close to advocating violence. Dr. King wrote this epic letter on April 16th, 1963 as a political prisoner. They are not simply saying words but have a system backed up by it. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive. But since I feel that you are men of genuine goodwill and your criticisms are sincerely set forth, I would like to answer your statement in what I hope will be patient and reasonable terms. They basically called him an outsider but by establishing his credibility, King shows that he is in fact an, Martin Luther King Jr. effectively implements ethos,pathos, and logos in his Letter to from a Birmingham Jail. But even if the Church does not come to the aid of justice, I have no despair about the future. So I have not said to my people, Get rid of your discontent. But I have tried to say that this normal and healthy discontent can be channeled through the creative outlet of nonviolent direct action. In this testament, the author is convincing the audience via a clear and emotion-provoking approach, that the nonviolence method is the way to go in handling the situation. 11 Corinthians 6:1-2 Kairos is not just crisis but opportunity and favour. Now this approach is being dismissed as extremist. But can this assertion be logically made? WebAlthough MLK utilizes many varying appeals and devices, Kairos and anaphora are the most forceful because they pressure the white clergy and stimulate guilt in them. Refutation is also a major aspect apparent throughout the letter. Martin Luther King uses ethos when making credible connections to real people and events that occurred in the near present or past. I must admit that I was initially disappointed in being so categorized. Specifically, I will argue that Kings claims are more persuasive because they take a more realistic and practical approach compared to Platos claims, which contain inconsistencies and rely on assumptions that may not always be true. Martin Luther King Jr., with the Rev. The Aristotelian Appeals In Letter From Birmingham Jail By Martin Luther King Jr. Letter To Birmingham Jail By Martin Luther King Jr.: Analysis, Letter From Birmingham Jail By Martin Luther King Jr: Reality For African Americans, Letter From Birmingham Jail By Martin Luther King Jr: Advocating Equality, The Idea Of Civil Disobedience In Letter From Birmingham Jail And Crito, Free revision, title page, and bibliography. Webfrom Birmingham Jail. " Instead, some have been outright opponents, refusing to understand the freedom movement and misrepresenting its leaders; all too many others have been more cautious than courageous and have remained silent behind the anesthetizing security of the stained glass windows. This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before, Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts. Isnt this like condemning Socrates because his unswerving commitment to truth and his philosophical delvings precipitated the misguided popular mind to make him drink the hemlock? The first of these men is Martin Luther King, who we celebrate every January of every year. To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below: By clicking Send, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement. As seen throughout significant events in history, strong leaders are able to mold language into a powerful tool, which they utilize for specific goals. Words: 1806. In this statement, the author is stating the goal of nonviolent actions. This is what has happened to the American Negro. My thesis aimed to study dynamic agrivoltaic systems, in my case in arboriculture. We bring it out in the open where it can be seen and dealt with. But more basically, I am in Birmingham because injustice is here. The oppressed people have to rely on the Federal civil rights legislation thus African Americans' civil rights can be guaranteed. "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 hope will be patient and, We have gone through all these steps in Birmingham." 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help you just now, Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963 addresses his letter referred to as the Letter from Birmingham Jail to the eight white clergy men who made it known to the public that his actions, which took place in Birmingham, Alabama were [], On April 16, 1963, DR. Martin Luther King, Jr responded in the newspaper which had been written by some clergymen urging him to abandon the demonstrations which he was leading in Birmingham. Another way that King uses pathos in the letter is in the way that he talks about the way people are affected by the segregation. Ethos is the characteristic spirit of a culture, era, or community as manifested in its beliefs and aspirations. It argues that King's "Letter" was an essential response for civil rights to continue as a mass movement in Birmingham and beyond. WebPurpose? You spoke of our activity in Birmingham as extreme. WebLetter from a Birmingham Jail readers theater is a 2 page script for 8 readers that explains the events leading up to Dr. Martin Luther Kings arrest and subsequent letter, Therefore, the fact that Martin Luther King is an educated African-American figure and also is a priest qualifies him to have automatic ethos. They have languished in filthy, roach-infested jails, suffering the abuse and brutality of angry policemen who see them as dirty nigger lovers. They, unlike so many of their moderate brothers and sisters, have recognized the urgency of the moment and sensed the need for powerful action antidotes to combat the disease of segregation. So I am here, along with several members of my staff, because we were invited here. After reading this article, King took it upon himself to write back to the clergymen, stating his opinion on their article. Edubirdie. Isnt segregation an existential expression of mans tragic separation, an expression of his awful estrangement, his terrible sinfulness? Simply stated, logos is the setting forth of the reasoning behind a position or action. I received a letter this morning from a white brother in Texas which said: All Christians know that the colored people will receive equal rights eventually, but is it possible that you are in too great of a religious hurry? It is the strangely irrational notion that there is something in the very flow of time that will inevitably cure all ills. April 16, 1963. It is a presentation of the logical relationships between and the reasoning for a particular position. He also explains that [nonviolence] seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored. This is also a logical statement that supports his organizations ideals of nonviolence. He uses his examples in order to logically explain why nonviolent direct action works. In Letter from Birmingham Jail by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he writes to the clergymen of Birmingham. Was not Jesus an extremist in love? Society must protect the robbed and punish the robber. Critical, analytical, or interpretive essays that examine particular instances of symbolic inducement in any historical period are welcome. I am currently continuing at SunAgri as an R&D engineer. We must come to see, as federal courts have consistently affirmed, that it is immoral to urge an individual to withdraw his efforts to gain his basic constitutional rights because the quest precipitates violence. Rhetorical Analysis of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s Letter from Birmingham Jail. Panel Discusion Gabriella Pierre-Louis, Governors State University Kendall Wright, Governors State University Anthony Thompson, Governors State University Emmanuel Wills, Governors State University Michael Carten, Governors State University : a time when conditions are right for the accomplishment of a crucial action : the opportune and decisive moment. In the excerpt Letter from the Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr., King utilized ethos and logos to express his belief for a country without judgment of character based solely on one's skin color and discrimination towards the Negro community. King starts off by saying, Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a communityis forced to confront the issue. Here, he is defining the goal of nonviolent direct action. He appeals to the community standards of the clergy, using the device of Ethos. Having been pushed to the corner, the blacks have no other alternative but to demonstrate. On the other hand a just law is a code that a majority compels a minority to follow that it is willing to follow itself. In that dramatic scene on Calvarys hill three men were crucified. MLK uses ethos near the beginning of his letter to convince readers of his credibility. Therefore, there is no way that this approach can be considered illegal or bad just because it is the King who is leading it. Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Remember: This is just a sample from a fellow student. In the Public Domain.]. In the letter from Birmingham Jail, Dr. Martin Luther King bring everyone together to talk about the protesters and why these people decided to continue to disobey At first I was rather disappointed that fellow clergymen would see my nonviolent efforts as those of the extremist. Home Essay Samples Social Issues Letter From Birmingham Jail Pathos, Logos, Ethos in Letter From Birmingham Jail. His anecdote King Jr., Martin Luther. Although the essays were very similar, they did differ in the tone and audience they attracted. I must close now. Isnt this like condemning the robbed man because his possession of money precipitated the evil act of robbery? Since its founding in 1947, the mission of the Michigan State University Press has been to be a catalyst for positive intellectual, social, and technological change through the publication of research and intellectual inquiry, making significant contributions to scholarship in the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences. Are you interested in getting a customized paper? He does this by showing what the South would be like if they resorted to violent actions, and also how African Americans would trudge along if they were completely compliant to the segregation laws. After a promise over riddance of all supremacist signs hung up in establishments, Negroes were later faced with even more signs that only continued the inadequate treatment. We will occasionally send you account related emails. Published quarterly, the journal explores the traditional arenas of rhetorical investigation including executive leadership, diplomacy, political campaigns, judicial and legislative deliberations, and public policy debate. 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Maybe Mr. Connor and his policemen have been rather publicly nonviolent, as Chief Pritchett was in Albany, Georgia, but they have used the moral means of nonviolence to maintain the immoral end of flagrant injustice. Before the pilgrims landed at Plymouth, we were here. All rights reserved. These are just a few examples of unjust and just laws. This statement reveals the major purpose of all the social unrest planned by the king. Im sorry that I cant join you in your praise for the police department.