Luther King wrote his letter with the aim to inform the clergy that he had a right to be in Birmingham and that his actions had moral, just, and honorable reasons. He uses rhetorical devices to convince not only them but also the rest of the American citizens. Above all, King drew deep comparisons and called Birmingham ‘America’s worst city for racism’ (King 79). He set out to bring justice and peace to all people, not only to the state but to the rest of the country as well.
King also used parallelism to strengthen his arguments and enhance credibility. In this way, the letter crashes into the audience’s consciousness. The constant descriptions of hardship black faces, comparisons, and repetition make it seem like a constant routine that they endure. He also includes metaphors in his writing that paint a visual picture of black people’s oppression, who do not seem to have even the slightest chance of escaping it.
King can also capture readers’ attention and let them sympathize with what black people have experienced across America using pathos. By vividly describing the violence, injustice, and brutality that Dr. King witnessed, audiences can better understand the issue at hand and are more likely to adhere to his points of view and actions rather than those of the clergy. The use of the words ‘gritted teeth,’ ‘unarmed,’ and ‘nonviolent’ makes the audience truly see the inhumanity of police brutality toward people who are peacefully protesting (King 85).
For the clergy and the entire American people to believe and support his arguments, Dr. King must have facts and arguments about indifference about bombings in black homes. If King had not written such strong and effective rhetorical writing, the strength of the Civil Rights Movement’s outrage and momentum he recognizes would have been diminished.
Work Cited
King Jr, Martin Luther. ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail.’ The Atlantic Monthly, vol.212, no.2, 1963, pp 78- 88.