Introduction
Words play an essential part in human existence since they express and influence the way people think. Martin Luther King, Jr’s Letter from Birmingham Jail represents an example of rhetoric that has a complex and intricate history, and the composition of which has a powerful legacy. The power of this piece lies not only in its historical surroundings but also in the way it is written. In various paragraphs of this letter, Martin Luther King Jr. uses logos, pathos, and ethos, three building blocks of Aristotle’s framework for understanding historical appeals. These notions are so profoundly intertwined that when King employs them, he employs each of them to the best of his capacities. His argument for nonviolent resistance against segregation is strongest when he talks about just and unjust laws in paragraphs eleven and twelve. In this case, the strongest refers to the most successful in appealing to its audience’s critical thinking and common sense. It accomplishes these goals by defining these kinds of laws but also offering the people reading a trustworthy connection and emotional invocation.
Martin Luther King, Jr. and Birmingham Imprisonment
In order to understand Martin Luther King Jr’s way of writing, it is vital to establish the background and specifics of when this letter was written. In 1963, George Wallace, Alabama Governor, proclaimed segregation was a matter that would continue forever. At the same time, planning for a desegregation campaign in Birmingham, Alabama, has begun. Martin Luther King, Jr. led it under the patronage of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). The demonstrations in Birmingham began in April of 1963. Beforehand, the leaders of the movement have come to a definitive decision. They were steadfast that in case a court order against the demonstrations was issued, they would not obey it. In the previous campaigning, SCLC had not taken this measure. On the 12 of April, King was arrested for violation of the expected court order and imprisoned in the Birmingham City Jail.
The same day that King was taken to prison, a group of white clergy gathered to write a response to the protests, condemning the SCLC’s actions. Their statement would contain appeals to order, law, and common sense. An interesting detail of this ordeal was that earlier that year, in January, they were among eleven local clergies who condemned segregationists’ violence and requested peaceful compliance with desegregation (Schwartz 374). Although their April statement was not directed at King specifically or questioned the ultimate goals of the campaign, SCLC saw it as an opportunity to open a conversation with a rhetorical high ground.
Logos
In Aristotle’s framework for rhetoric, logos, pathos, and ethos play distinctive and equally important roles. Logos is defined as the speech that establishes the truth and reason (Stucki and Fritz 375). In King’s work, logos permeates different aspects of logical appeal. The first of these is establishing the basis for his reasoning and showing that the desegregation campaigners are capable of understanding people’s worries: “You express a great deal of anxiety over our willingness to break laws. This is certainly a legitimate concern” (King 11). By expressing his knowledge of the distress perceived by the public, King emphasizes the necessity of this fight despite the concerns it brings. The second type of logical appeal comes from reasoning presented in making a conclusion based on a citation of another philosopher and theologist: “Paul Tillich has said that sin is separation. Isn’t segregation an existential expression of man’s tragic separation, an expression of his awful estrangement, his terrible sinfulness?” (King 12). The act of drawing a conclusion in itself is an act of logos; however, the imagery used here has an undeniable flare of pathos.
Pathos
In King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail, pathos plays a crucial role. As per Aristotle, pathos is the speaker’s ability to elicit an emotional response from the audience (Stucki and Fritz 375). King’s appeal to emotions is presented in several sentences in paragraph twelve. An example of this is when he describes what effects segregation has on people: “All segregation statutes are unjust because segregation distorts the soul and damages the personality” (King 12). This statement coincides with the already mentioned sinfulness of segregation and elaboration on what pain estrangement inflicts upon a person. The emotional response King achieved through pathos was also the rightful revolt against unfairness: “It gives the segregator a false sense of superiority and the segregated a false sense of inferiority” (King 12). Although the issue discussed was the matter of race, it is scarce for a person to live their life without experiencing unfair treatment. Therefore, this line appealed to the basic human need to be seen for their true values.
Ethos
Ethos in Martin Luther King, Jr’s letter is represented by establishing trust and reliability by explaining the kind of laws he encountered, as well as citing other figures in his support. Ethos in rhetoric refers to the manner in which the speech is delivered to instill a sense of trust in the audience (Stucki and Fritz 375). The explanation of the laws comes in a statement: “One may well ask: “How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?” The answer lies in the fact that there are two types of laws: just and unjust” (King 11). Here the credibility necessary for the audience to believe the speaker comes from the demonstration that breaking the law is not always morally reprehensible. A speaker that presents themselves as fighting for moral justice is far more reliable than a speaker who outright admits to acting unlawfully.
Another way to incorporate ethos in the speech is by mentioning other influential agents in this matter. Here, King refers to Paul Tillich, who has been mentioned above, and Saint Thomas Aquinas, an Italian philosopher, and theologist: “To put it in the terms of Saint Thomas Aquinas, an unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal and natural law” (King 12). “Paul Tillich has said that sin is separation. Isn’t segregation an existential expression of man’s tragic separation, an expression of his awful estrangement, his terrible sinfulness?” (King 12). The case of the referral to Paul Tillich also exemplifies the logos aspect of the subject.
Conclusion
In conclusion, logos, pathos, and ethos are essential counterparts of any speech that aims to persuade and appeal to its audience. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail utilizes each of these concepts in paragraphs eleven and twelve. This part of the letter is the strongest since it uses these ideas to compel critical thinking that is rooted in emotional response and trust. King employs logos, pathos, and ethos through the establishment of just and unjust laws, appeals to basic human experiences, and supports his position by mentioning influential philosophical figures. Each of these elements constitutes a more profound understanding of the segregationist’s arguments for nonviolent protest.
Works Cited
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Letter from Birmingham City Jail.” 1963
Schwartz, Earl. “Letter from Birmingham Jail: From World to Word.” Word & World, vol. 38, no. 4, 2018, pp. 373–381.
Stucki, Iris, and Fritz, Sager. “Aristotelian Framing: Logos, Ethos, Pathos and the Use of Evidence in Policy Frames.” Policy Sciences, vol. 51, no. 3, 2018, pp. 373–385.