Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, leader in the Civil Rights Movement, in his letter ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’ (1963) argues that white moderates are the real barrier to equality for black people. King develops through use of various pertinent examples, both extended and hypothetical supplemented by thought-provoking rhetorical questions and effective references to outside literature. King appeals for the unity against the racism in society and right for Human Rights, using ethos. Similarly, King uses pathos to trigger the American people to take actions. Moreover, King uses logical explanations to explain the reasons to fight against white supremacy. King wrote this letter as a response to a statement in the newspaper, which was written by some clergymen.
He argues that the detention of the members and the treatment given is against human rights. King states that African Americans have waited for a long time to gain their human rights. The actions and the situation of the racism was a direct violation of the law of nation as well as the law of God. King clarifies that the lack of rights is against democracy and constitution while blacks deserve the ‘God-given’ rights. King tries to persuade the readers into knowing the extensity of this situation of human rights.
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His presence in Birmingham meant that the situation of human rights was miserable there, and his arrest by the local authorities proved his point. He also made extensive use of pathos against the white supremacy. In his appeal to the blacks to fight against racism, King writes about the life of African Americans, highlighting poverty and mistreatment. Blacks are not given most of the privileges and state the backwardness of them a consequence. So, this statement exclusively appeals the Black in an emotional aspect.
King was a remarkable speaker and knew perfect combination of rhetorical devices for persuading his audience. King compares himself to Aspostile Paul, who set out on journey to convey the message of Christianity all over Greece and Roman. However, the story or Paul is not the only influencing factor that King uses in his letter. King also specifies various prominent personalities like St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Agustine, Jhon Bunyan, Martin Luther, and even Jesus Christ in his letter. He distinctively pursues his audience into believing that he wants to create a revolutionary change.
The letter includes different logical explanations. King provides a definition of such examples of how they are enforced, using common logic to decipher how discrimination exists in society. He uses the example of a just and unjust law. According to King, the law that people follow and the law that was used to arrest him ate different, and it is simply a form of unjust law in action. As a result, most of the white supremacy define the law with their advantage in mind. King says that it is a bad thing that white supremacists leave black people with no other choice as to stand against them. The whites discriminate them and treat them as the minority. King is a very reflective in his letter. So, King made it clear that resistance appeared.
The use of ethos, logos, pathos, combined with a reflective tone and King’s passion, makes King’s letter stand out as an excellent piece of literature as well as the motivational message. King establishes himself as a man with trustworthiness by using ethos. King wants the readers to know that he wants a change that is big enough for history. King also uses pathos to reflect the miserable situation of Human Rights and states that his presence in Birmingham Jail was desperation. King makes excellent use of logos to justify the rogue status of the government. So, King’s letter is an appeal for those who want change and a warning for those who oppose it.
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