Letters from Birmingham Jail (1963) - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

         Known as one of the most reverend civil rights activist in history, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. expresses his passionate viewpoint on discrimination to eight white clergymen in his notable "Letter from Birmingham Jail". After being arrested for parading without a permit, King attempts to defend justice for African-Americans across the country through his passionate thoughts. Despite the letter being sent to only eight officials, King's intended audience is high class, white individuals. Throughout his letter, Dr. King utilizes both ethos and pathos appeals to capture his readers' attention and communicate his opinion effectively, even during a period in history when segregation was ever so evident.
       Of all the devices that King includes in his letter, his appeal through ethics is most frequently employed. Numerous significant historical figures are referenced in order to justify his argument in a compelling manner. For instance, King cites one of the most prominent U.S. presidents to his advantage by stating, "Was not Abraham Lincoln an extremist - 'This nation cannot survive half slave and half free'" (King 273). In order to support his stance, King establishes credibility through the use of a variety of influential figures in order to ultimately express his passionate viewpoint. Importantly, the civil rights activist does not reference only African-American leaders to justify his point, rather he notes a variety of figures such as Jesus Christ, Lincoln, and Bunyan in order to appeal to his audience.  By building up validity to his argument, King establishes a firm foundation for his writing.
         Not only does King include ethics in his argument, but he also strengthens his claim by engaging the readers' emotions. He clarifies to the aristocratic white readers that it is easy for them to wait for change, but for black individuals such as King himself, a change is imperative. He exemplifies the harsh brutality faced by the black community by explaining "when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim; when you have seen hate filled policemen curse, kick, brutalize, and even kill your black brother and sisters with impunity... then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait" (King 267). By referencing the harsh treatments that innocent men, women, and children are facing, Dr. King makes the readers have a sympathetic connection with the oppressed. Including precise diction such as vicious, lynch, and brutalize allows King to expressively share his point of view to the carefree white community. Through his engaging and passionate words, Dr. King strengthens his compelling stance on discrimination and effectively adds onto his already well-established argument.

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Dr. King reflects on discrimination behind bars of Birmingham Jail.