Essays

Letter from Birmingham Jail Essay

Letter from Birmingham Jail was written by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963 to address the public concerns of the protests related to his arrest. King was arrested for being involved in nonviolent demonstrations against segregation and wrote this letter which then became a large influence for the American Civil Rights Movement. Martin Luther King Jr. uses the rhetorical devices logos, pathos, and ethos to further connect to his audience and spread awareness towards racism. 

The first rhetorical device used by King in his letter is logos. Logos is the appeal to logic and rationality. King uses logos many times throughout the letter to provide logic and reasoning to his actions. For example, “You express a great deal of anxiety over our willingness to break laws…”How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?” The answer is found in the fact that there are two types of laws: there are just laws, and there are unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that “An unjust law is no law at all.” Now, what is the difference between the two? How does one determine when a law is just or unjust?” (King, 3). King addresses the clergymen’s criticisms on their lawbreaking but then goes into detail about the difference between just and unjust laws. King uses logos to justify breaking the law because they are unjust laws that participate in segregation. King uses logic and reasoning to expose the discrimination laws that are in place and explain why it is necessary to break the unjust laws in this situation for the fight for equality. 

The second rhetorical device used by King in his letter is pathos, the appeal to emotion. King uses pathos to connect emotionally with the audience and to evoke emotions within them. For example, “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Frankly, I have never yet engaged in a direct-action movement that was “well timed” according to the timetable of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation. For years now I have heard the word “wait.” It rings in the ear of every Negro with a piercing familiarity. This “wait” has almost always meant “never.” It has been a tranquilizing thalidomide, relieving the emotional stress for a moment, only to give birth to an ill-formed infant of frustration. We must come to see with the distinguished jurist of yesterday that “justice too long delayed is justice denied.” We have waited for more than three hundred and forty years for our God-given and constitutional rights” (King, 2). King uses pathos to show the audience how long the black community has had to fight for their freedom and equality, and show how their fight is still not over. King elicits emotion within the audience with these simple yet powerful statements. 

The third rhetorical device used by King in his letter is ethos, the ethical appeal based on the writer, which in this case is Martin Luther King Jr. King uses ethos to show credibility and character to the audience. For example, “” 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. We have some eighty-five affiliate organizations all across the South, one being the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights. Whenever necessary and possible, we share staff, educational and financial resources with our affiliates. 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. We readily consented, and when the hour came we lived up to our promises. So I am here, along with several members of my staff, because we were invited here. I am here because I have basic organizational ties here” (King, 1) King uses ethos to appeal to the audience as a religious leader. Religious figures tend to receive more credit as being trustworthy and reliable. King uses ethos throughout his letter to build credibility and trust with the audience so that they will listen to what he has to say. 

In conclusion, Martin Luther King Jr. used many rhetorical devices throughout his letter to better connect with the audience, including logos, pathos, and ethos.