Pathos in MLK Jr.s Letter from Birmingham Jail - 571 Words

Pathos in MLK, Jr.s Letter from Birmingham Jail In his Letter, Martin Luther King Jr.s ability to effectively use pathos, or to appeal to the emotions of his audiences, is evident in a variety of places. More particularly in paragraph fourteen, King demonstrates his ability to inspire his fellow civil rights activists, invoke empathy in the hearts of white moderates, and create compassion in the minds of the eight clergyman to which the Letter is directed. In response to the clergymans claim that his use of direct action was untimely, King states, We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God-given rights. As you can see, this statement is in direct relation to the clergymans†¦show more content†¦Why are we still moving so slowly toward independence? King is pushing the people of the black community to act, to be involved in what will be their history with his words of inspiration and at the same time making it clear to them that the time to act is now. Like instruments in an orchestra being brought in one by one to a melody that fills the ears of its listeners and drives out any other thoughts, King then targets the white moderate population, the white voters. He tries to place this audience into the shoes of the black people by giving vivid descriptions of the trials they have been going through and invoke empathy in their hearts. He says: When you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your brothers and sisters at whim . . . This statement brings up an issue every culture has had to deal with, death. Death in the American culture is one that is associated with loss and grief. King deftly imposes this loss on the shoulders of his white audience making it clear to them the pain the black people have been dealt. King then sums up this passage by turning his voice back to the clergymen hes addressing and says, Then you will understand why we find it difficult toShow MoreRelatedLetter From A Birmingham Jail By Martin Luther King Jr.920 Words   |  4 PagesIn his â€Å"Letter from a Birmingham Jail,† Martin Luther King Jr. makes appeals to ethos, logos, and pathos to convince the clergymen that colored people have been waiting for too long for political, economic, and social justice and freedom. He argues that it’s unfair to promise someone, or a group, for a change and not fulfill that promise. Along with demonetizing and/or belittling a person to the point where they don’t feel as important or as worth as they should; making them feel hatred and angerRead MoreMlk Jr.’S â€Å"Letter from a Birmingham Jail†1325 Words   |  6 PagesMLK Jr.’s â€Å"Letter from a Birmingham Jail† While unaware of the impact this would have on the American people, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s â€Å"Letter from a Birmingham Jail† turned into an iconic piece of American history. King’s tremendous work as a civil rights activist through non-violent protest changed our day-to-day life, and his words captured the entire American population. King was persuasive due to his genuine nature and passion for his work, which is easily communicated in his writing. SpecificallyRead MoreBirmingham Jail Functional Theory1638 Words   |  7 PagesLuther King Jr.’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail (1965) is important from both historical and sociological points of view. It is an example of self-sacrifice as in idea for the of equality of all people. Formally, King addresses this letter that he wrote while in Birmingham jail at the clergymen who opposed his protests. In fact, he applies it to everyone who approves of racism, and considers the methods of nonviolent struggle to be too radical and far fetched from achieving an actual goal. From a sociologicalRead MoreOne Man s Cry Out1530 Words   |  7 PagesOne Man’s Cry Out Members of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, including Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., participated in a campaign against racial segregation and economic injustices in Birmingham, Alabama. On April 12, 1963, King and nearly 50 other protestors and civil rights leaders were arrested on a Good Friday for an ordinance violation. The movement was one of nonviolence: however, it was the intent to use confrontational tactics to give awareness of the Blacks’ opposition