Letter From Birmingham Jail Analysis

Martin Luther King Jr. wrote the “Letter From Birmingham Jail” on April 16, 1963 and it began a huge transformation for the Civil Rights Movement. In his letter he is basically responding to an advertisement from the Birmingham news. He was extremely reasonable and modest all throughout his letter. He goes into great detail about how even though the protestors at the movement were breaking federal laws but, their actions obeyed the moral law. When he said this in his letter he was referring to St. Augustine because he says “An unjust law is no law at all”. (King Jr., para.14). It was a nonviolent campaign and there were 4 basic steps being followed, “collection of facts to determine whether injustices

King’s use of many rhetorical devices in these three paragraphs of “Letter from Birmingham Jail” solidify his conviction that segregation needs to be quelled immediately. Dr. King’s explanations justify the demonstrations and protests that he is participating in. Although this was a letter meant for clergymen, Dr. King simultaneously taught all of America a very important lesson: justice is a universal natural right, and when it is denied, it needs to be demanded. Racial equality is the form of justice in this case, as segregation was the culprit that divided society into two racial groups. Thus, Dr. King successfully advocated civil rights through this letter with powerful, clever

The primary source chosen is the “Letter From a Birmingham Jail,”  written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It was a letter sent to the clergyman of Birmingham, Alabama in 1963. The actual document was written inside the Birmingham city jail on articles of newspaper and scrapes that Dr. King had near by in his cell. Throughout the letter Dr. King addresses the comments made by the Birmingham clergymen about his civil rights demonstrations. He understands that someone will have to break the racial barrier. The question that may arise is that, “If Dr. King’s message went to most southern states and did not go to all including Alabama, would the action be centered toward equal opportunity or segregation with the idea that each race would be a product of their resources?”

The “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is the letter written by Martin Luther King Jr. to the clergymen of Birmingham, in which he speaks up against the nonviolence demonstration criticisms by white modernists. In it King suggests that Socrates is civilly disobedient, despite Socrates’ assertions of breaking the law in the Crito, the prison conversation between Socrates and his friend Crito days before his death. 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. I, too, believe that Socrates was in some form rebellious to the law, and that he was misunderstood and rejected by society. The Apology and Crito are two dialogues that discuss the intent of Socrates’ “crimes;” and the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” goes along the reasoning behind King’s claim against Socrates.

“A Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr. was written in the margins of a letter posted by the clergymen of Alabama at this time that sparked his interest and while he inhabited the jail cell for parading around without a permit. This time allowed him the ability to respond wholeheartedly to this cynical oppressing. King’s letter addresses specific points presented in the Clergymen’s and this direct response distinguishes King’s strong points through his powerful writing.  Unethical and immoral mentions came to the attention of the Minister through the letter, and he expressed his differing views and defended his ideals and actions through Aristotle’s three rhetorical devices, ethos, logos, and pathos.

The source that I found most helpful for this project is “The Letter from Birmingham Jail.” I think it is the best source because it is a primary source. Also because it explains what it was like to be a civil rights activist. Lastly, the message that MLK was writing was very detailed and easy to visualize. Everything in this passage was true and from an activist perspective.

In the early 1960s, Birmingham was, culturally and forced by police, one of the most racially divided cities in the United States. Blacks did not have the same legal and economic rights as their white brethren. When attention was drawn to this issue, they were faced with violent responses. It was conceivably the most segregated city in the country. Protests began to form to fight for equal chance of employment at businesses and to end segregation in public places such as stores and schools. Sit-ins were soon organized after the failed protests to produce a copious amount of arrests and draw the country's attention towards Birmingham. Shortly after, the amount of adults to take part in the sit-ins fell harshly and there were new volunteers. High school and college students rose to the occasion and took part in passively fighting for their rights. With the addition of the students also came many of the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference). Among those who came with the SCLC was a very important guest. One who was jailed, had an article criticizing himself and his methods, and was able to produce a letter in which he responded to the writers of the article while incarcerated. This man

When you hear the name Martin Luther King Jr., the first thing that comes to mind is probably racism against African Americans. He is famous for his wisdom and persuasive speeches against segregation of African Americans. This statement holds strongly true because today diverse races are integrated all over the united states. For what ever reason, Martin has been an inspiration to many African Americans. He accomplished his success mostly through speeches, but also through his written essays. Although, his speeches were intense and filled with much persuasion, Martin had a way with words when he wrote too. This is displayed in professional fashion in the "Letter From Birmingham Jail." Martin displayed a circus of statements in response to

In order to achieve true freedom society must find a peaceful solution. In the articles “Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and “Speech at the March on Washington” by Josephine Bake. The overall message argues bout equality and the disadvantages of the black community. In order to achieve true freedom society must find a peaceful solution.

Writing is an art, and like all art, it can transcend time to speak to different generations. Pieces of art that are truly great can be appreciated by anyone, regardless of who it was meant for. Literature is used for evoking emotions and connecting with people, for communicating events and discoveries across the world, for bringing people together. When used properly, literature can do all this and more. Those who have the skill to wield the tools of the art can create amazing creations. One letter that fits this description is the “Letter From Birmingham Jail”. This letter cries out for justice, a cry that can be heard far and wide throughout the ages. It uses the tools of literature to impact everyone. Martin Luther King Jr uses diction

Martin Luther King Jr. went to Birmingham not only because he had ties there, but to lead the fight for freedom. Fighting for the minorities to have freedom meant a lot to Dr. King, not only does it affect him but if affects the community. He started boycotting the city’s segregated public busses and then became the voice of Americans civil rights movement. While Dr. King was incarcerated in an Alabama jail he took the time to write back to some clergymen that had questioned his tactics. In 1963, he wrote a letter to help others, specifically the clergymen, to understand that the time they are living is rough for the minorities especially black Americans. He called it a phase and that soon it will work its self out so that everybody will respect one another and things will be different. Although King knew everybody was against the blacks of the community and him, he used natural law and getting to know the people that are truly there to help them was used to show they were on their own to fight the battle to freedom.

Amidst the crowd that conforms to the majority, only a handful of individuals have chosen to follow their moral conscience. These individuals knew not which results will follow after their acts of civil disobedience; however, they still held strong to their decisions and willingly accepted the consequences. Martin Luther King Jr. and Thoreau both argue that when an unjust law is present, an individual will always stand up against it and lead the blind population toward true justice, in other words, equality. In this context, the two rebels debate the injustice behind slavery in order to bring the issue onto eyes of the world.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1929. He attended Morehouse College and upon his graduation he chose to go in the route of his father to pursue Baptist Ministry. Dr. King wanted us all to be treated fairly; he was influenced by Mohandas Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence and was convinced that all African Americans should utilize his powerful words as a new way of an equal life. Dr. King was a civil rights activist, who believed in transcendence, that right and wrong do exist. His powerful words given during his I have a dream speech led him to earn the Noble Peace Prize. Friedrich Nietzsche was born in Röcken, Prussia in 1844. In 1864 he enrolled in the University of Bonn to study theology. He began to doubt his

Nobel Peace Prize winner, Martin Luther King Jr. writes “Letter from Birmingham Jail” to address Clergymen during April 16, 1963, after being jailed for parading without a permit. King’s purpose is to have equality, and justice for negroes. He adopts an indignant tone in order to present unjust law that Clergymen were making. In a similar fashion, Jonathan Edwards, a Valedictorian at Yale, writes “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” to address puritans. Edwards purpose is to persuade the Puritans into joining his covenant group. By doing this, he adopts an extremist tone in order to appeal to different religions. Both of these pieces use methods that differ in many ways. We must first analyze these two pieces to decipher which one is more effective. And by doing so we must first define effective-“consistent throughout.” Within the next paragraphs, I’m going to point out all of the things King and Edwards did in their writing. This will not only enhance your thoughts about these two credible men; it will show you the difference within these pieces.

Movements have always been apart of American history, whether religious or political. Two literature pieces strongly centered behind a movement are Martin Luther King Jr.’s “A Letter from Birmingham Jail” and “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards. Both pieces were influential to their movements; although, different techniques were used by both authors. Given that both of these pieces had influence on the movement, it raises the question of which argument was more effective. Under the definition that effectiveness is the amount in which something creates a long term desired result, one of these pieces is clearly more effective, which can be determined with an in depth analysis.