"LETTER FROM A BIRMINGHAM JAIL": RHETORIC AND ALLUSION Term 1 / 13 Read this excerpt from "Letter from Birmingham Jail" and answer the question. The white clergymen who conveyed objection to King's actions, felt that his actions was breaking the law and causing chaos. (Buehrer). (C) prowl It shows that the decisions that are being made are not helping the problem that Birmingham has, it is only making the segregation problems worse. In Letter from Birmingham Jail Dr. King been arrested and is writing to the clergymen about why he felt the need to be protesting also reasons why the clergymen should care. Dr. Kings claim centered on the need to encourage nonviolent protest against racial discrimination. Socrates repeatedly states that it would be morally wrong for him to escape prison and go against the laws, however, King believes that he is civilly disobedient. 10 questions 14 minutes See All test questions "Letter from Birmingham Jail" This passage is adapted from Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail." 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 lines 143-151: What tone does King create through his word choices in these lines? Open Document. He wrote that creating tension was essential so that individuals could rise from the bondage of myths and half-truths (King 2). Throughout the letter Dr. King addresses the comments made by the Birmingham clergymen about his civil rights demonstrations. Another crucial allusion was made to the Book of Acts. The letter argued that people have a moral responsibility to break unjust and unethical laws. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. On April 12, 1963Good Fridaya 428-word open letter appeared in the Birmingham, Alabama, newspaper calling for unity and protesting the recent Civil Rights demonstrations in Birmingham. He also revealed the biblical soundness of this claim through various examples (Rieder XIX). They show that civil disobedience has started/lead to actual major events (civil right movements). Alliteration Repetition of initial consonant sounds History Allusion "We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was "legal".. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote this letter from a jail in Birmingham, Alabama. With King writing this at the end, he proved that despite terrible actions in the past and being wrongfully jailed, he is still willing to stay. In the "Letter from a Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King demonstrates how nonviolence allows those who "refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue" (King). Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a letter from his jail cell in Birmingham after he was imprisoned during a march for civil rights. In the last paragraph in Letter from Birmingham Jail, King uses juxtapositions and makes it a metaphor; he wrote: Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear-drenched communities, and is some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty. (King 176). This essay was written by a fellow student. Letter from a birmingham jail metaphors. King uses logos to patiently explain in his response to the clergyman that negotiations were attempted but failed through the lines, In these negotiating sessions certain promises were made by the merchants, such as the promises to remove the humiliating racial signs.., and The signs remained. King shows that the protests were not impulsively carried out but were a planned approach in response to negotiations not taken seriously. Choose one type of reason and cite an example from these lines. Copyright 2023 - IvyPanda is operated by, Kings Allusion in Letter From Birmingham Jail, Extremism in King's "Letter From Birmingham Jail", Native Hawaiian Civil Rights and Movements. Blum, Edward J., and Paul Harvey. Social activist, Martin Luther King Jr, in his letter, Letter from Birmingham Jail, addresses the exigency of changing segregation laws. Eight white clergymen(of the south(including Birmingham). Edit. Pharapreising and interpretation due to major educational standards released by a particular educational institution as well as tailored to your educational institution if different; 8th - 12th grade. In the same manner, King believed that people could unite to combat oppression. Defending the protests and arguing for . Dr. King wanted to end segregation and he also wanted equal rights for everyone, but he was told by the clergyman that the movement was unwise and untimely. King knew that his opinion was not popular, thus he had to know his audience well. Pilgrimage; declaration signing. English. His letters brought to light the injustice of the past and persuaded the clergymen to finally grant African Americans the Constitutional rights and the respect they deserved. Am. In his Letter to Birmingham Jail, King argues that there is injustice in Alabama and defends his protests for racial segregation. This letter serves as a purpose to apply the need for love and brotherhood towards one another and avoid all the unjust laws. How does King use these allusions to support his argument in favor of civil disobedience? He captivates the audience by stating what was happening to his fellow companions: the ways the whites were taking advantage of the blacks. The University of North Carolina Press, 2012. These are the hard, brutal, and unbelievable facts. Unfortunately, Martin Luther King Jr. was right. Letter From Birmingham Jail. Kings purpose is to emphasize the damage the segregation laws have brought upon black people. community precipitated violence and must be condemned. 28 November. Purpose. professional specifically for you? Follower of Jesus. Explain why the example fits your chosen reason. For years it was a norm for every negro to hear the word wait it soon became associated with word never which set them to believe justice too long delayed is justice denied (3). 4). create tension so that people have to confront an issue. Dr. Kings wrote this letter for eight white clergymen who unapproved of his nonviolent protests for racial equality and segregation. English. In the letter, Dr. King uses ethos, diction, and allusions when defending nonviolent protest which makes his argument really strong. "Letter From a Birmingham Jail," written by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963, describes a protest against his arrest for non-violent resistance to racism. Dr.King used peaceful protests such as sit-ins and marches across America to get his point across. Illustrate the example using any combination of scenes, characters, and items. HE EXPLAINS WHY HE BELIEVES THAT CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE IS WRONG. Letter from Birmingham Jail: S: Martin Luther King Jr. born in January 15, 1929, Atlanta Georgia, the Ebenezer Baptist Church. Registered address: Louki Akrita, 23 Bellapais Court, Flat/Office 46 1100, Nicosia, Cyprus To point out that his work was not just not untimely, it was overdue. In MLKs letter titled Letter From Birmingham Jail, he addresses the clergymen who have condemned his actions, and who labeled have him as an extremist. If you are the copyright owner of this paper and no longer wish to have your work published on IvyPanda. King clarifies to clergymen that the purpose of our direct action program is to create a situation so crisis packed that will inevitably open the door to negotiation (2). 208 Words. He was an extremist at the time as King is considered now. Question 6. Back then, people were ready to oppose unjust laws that were causing inequality and preventing progress. A letter from Birmingham Jail DRAFT. "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"(King 20). He identifies and works through the issue of segregation by telling the individuals who believe it is not the time to have justice; that it is easier for them to judge so quickly when their people are not the one suffering. IvyPanda. A Protestant best known for his study of the task of relating the Christian faith to politics. Letter from Birmingham Jail Allusions/Footnotes (AP EL/C) Term 1 / 44 I think I should indicate why I am here in Birmingham. I feel as though protesters should have the right to defend themselves against their oppressors. Edit. Mainly, the late doctors letter pushes, without crossing boundaries, fundamental social change. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was writing the letter in order to defend his organization's nonviolent strategies. 1963. Through Kings usage of tone, rhetorical appeals, and rhetorical tools he effectually persuades the Clergymen of U.S. to consider. His goal is to make the clergymen help him fight racial equality. In the 1950s and 1960s, Martin Luther King Jr. was a commendable leader in the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. The "Letter" was King's answer from his jail cell to eight white clergymen, among the most prestigious clergy in the state of Alabama, all racial moderates, who had condemned the protests roiling that city of fierce racism and branded King an extremist. King says, We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was legal and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was illegal. He used one of Abraham Lincolns quotes from his House Divided speech. Dr. King alluded to Apostle Paul to show the clergymen that they were sharing a common ground. King morally defends his protests using allusions, common grounds, and comparisons, implying how unaware the clergymen are of purposes of Kings protests. Imprisoned for his beliefs. King, the smart man that he is famous for, is able to appeal to the audience by using his experiences and emotions. Retrieved from https://ivypanda.com/essays/kings-allusion-in-letter-from-birmingham-jail/. 120 seconds. Writing assignment letter from birmingham jail, A Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Analysis, Letter from Birmingham Jail Allusion Essay, An Analysis of Letter From Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr. His initial reasoning for writing these letters was to answer the sincere criticism he had received from a fellow clergymen in hopes to bring about a negotiation of peace. IvyPanda. In the writing Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr. King basically criticizes the clergymen, who disapproved of Kings actions and protests. It seems beautiful, rustic, and tranquil. He is trying to convey his readers about his injustice in Birmingham and how it is our right and responsibility as a human being. For example, he states, Was not Jesus an extremist in love? How does the ending of the story suggest that the Greeks valued a well-ordered state in which justice prevails? Dr. King was sick of people criticizing them when they were never in their shoes It is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say wait. This metaphor improves Dr. King's writing because it allows him to express how it feels to be in the shoes of someone who understands the feeling of segregation, thus, changing how a bystander may think of it. Lines 133-142: What illusions are in these two paragraphs? The use of allusions is quite effective in the sense that they allow the audience to create connections in their minds. Lines 104-108: What other seminal document does King refer to in this paragraph? On the surface, "Letter from Birmingham Jail" is intended for the Birmingham clergymen who published an open letter criticizing the actions of Dr. King and the SCLC. The writer, Martin Luther King Jr., was a leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and was in favor to equality. Philosophy that individuals bear responsibility for their own actions, Refers to the spirit of the times; the general feel of an era. Am. King writes this letter to respond to the eight Clergy men who put him in jail. Martin Luther King once said, Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, (par. King faced criticism by a group of clergymen for being in Birmingham. Fred Shuttlesworth laws that don't follow moral law or degrade human personality. By reading about the, In Birmingham, African-American people suffered severe economic deprivation and job discrimination. Replica of Dr. King's Birmingham jail cell at the National Civil Rights Museum. This supports the reason: injustice occurring in Birmingham. A letter from Birmingham Jail DRAFT. He embraced a more coercive non violent strategy to address this issue, which is, Its unjust treatment of Negroes in the courts is a notorious (well-known) reality. Question 2 30 seconds Q. In case you can't find a relevant example, our professional writers are ready C. It seems peaceful, traditional, and clean. Letter from Birmingham Jail Summary & Analysis Next Themes Themes and Colors Key Summary Analysis Martin Luther King, Jr. directs his letter to the eight white clergymen who publicly condemned his actions in Birmingham, Alabama. Despite the clergymen claiming that they are violent in nature because they lead to violence by the crowds, King argues that such events are not the goal of the protestors. King doesn't want the contagious existence of injustice from spreading. For instance, he used a religious comparison to explain his presence in Birmingham, saying just as the Apostle Paul left his little village of Tarsus and carried the gospel. In your statement you assert that our actions, even though peaceful, must be condemned because they precipitate violence. Dealing with continued disappointment over segregation and mistreatment in the south, King organizes a march that ends with his arrest and criticism from white religious leaders. He used this to structure his letter in a coherent manner, all the while using several rhetorical, In his letter to the clergymen, he claimed, In your statement you assert that our actions, even though peaceful, must be condemned because they precipitate violence. (Paragraph 8). All rights reserved. 2 years ago. King and others were willing to go to jail for the cause of civil rights. No matter how badly and harshly King had been treated, he continued upholding the idea of nonviolent protests, and he considered it as the primary goal. 2 years ago. HE DISCUSSES ONLY . This letter was filled with reasons why the blacks should not be told to wait for their change, which is why the strongest paragraph in Kings letter would be on page 6 when King mentioned that the blacks are always told by white leaders that if they wait, they will finally gain their rights. The central purpose of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s letter is to respond to the criticism of eight white clergymen who criticized King for promoting disobedience of segregation laws. Dr. King tells the clergymen that he was upset about their criticisms, and that he wishes to address their concerns. For example, he stated Was not John Bunyan an extremist? Paragraph 48 has its irony as King points out that had he not been confined in jail, the letter might not have been so long, yet the irony is gentle, as he depicts himself "alone in a narrow jail cell" where he has time to "write long letters, think long thoughts, and pray long prayers."