Letter from Birmingham Jail

Respond to Letter from Birmingham Jail

ENG 300-A02

Debra Hays

June 21, 2010

I. Thesis

“Letter from Birmingham Jail” is an open letter that discusses about the unjustices happening in black community and justifies the author’s racial justice and equality.

II. Summary

“Letter from Birmingham Jail” is the letter written by Martin Luther King JR. during the time he is arrested to jail in Birmingham City in 1963. The letter is an explanation for the reason he is arrested and throught the letter to the clergymen, he also shows his opinions about the desperate need for nonviolent direct action, the immority of unjust laws, and the increasing probability of “Negro” disobedience. King emphazises “[i]njustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (2010, p.214), and his disappointment with the Church and the eighth clergyment for protesting segregation. The actions of African American are explained very well in the letter that also their quest to force the white politicians to negotiate or notice the desegregation’s requests. The letter makes the Congress understand well for the need of direct action and the unjust laws and the dangers of the rising up in violence if they do not hear.

III. Analysis of Rhetoric

To clarify his statement, Martin Luther King LR. uses many methods to express not his own opinions only but also his community. At first, the readers can realize the patience in the author’s tone in along whole letter. The calmness makes the audience feel the steady and confidence in himself although, at that time, he is in jail. The current situation he is in and the patient analysis about the unfairness in laws toward the black community create more serious request and make the white politicians pay more attention in the consequence they might meet if they do not take this require more seriously. In paragraph 14, the author compares between “Negro” community and Asia and Africa that they already have a political independence, so...