Dr. King’s main argument was that Black Americans have been suffering from unjust laws and inequality for a long time and that it is now time to create a more fair society to benefit everyone. King explains this to his audience with these words: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (para. 4). Discrimination and segregation are the processes that impact everyone’s lives, not only the Blacks.
One of the first allusions King makes is a reference to Bible:
“Just as the Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the Greco-Roman world, so am I compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my hometown” (para. 3).
Another allusion refers to Socrates’ philosophical speeches:
“Just as Socrates felt that it was necessary to create tension in the mind so that individuals could rise from the bondage of myths and half-truths to the unfettered realm of creative analysis and objective appraisal, so must we see the need for nonviolent gadflies to create the kind of tension in society that will help men rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood” (para. 9).
It might seem that race is the center point of the injustice, but in reality, it affects everyone, especially in the late XX century. No nation can truly develop and prosper if part of it is oppressed. Dr. King examines the impact of segregation and racism on society as a union, thus making his audience able to see the barriers that stand in the way of the future. His appeal to emotions and basic humanity made it possible for King to achieve strong support for the Civil Rights movement, as well as his actions. For clergymen and the entire American nation to believe and support his arguments, King had to have the strongest claims, thus he used allusions to both Bible and Socrates. Reference Paul emphasizes the innate goodness and even holiness of spreading the truth, the compassion, as well as a connection between Blacks and Whites established through a common religion. Meanwhile, by alluding to Socrates – a well-known philosopher – King creates a strong logical basis for his arguments that cannot be refuted.
Work Cited
King, Martin Luther, Jr. Letter from the Birmingham Jail. Harper San Francisco, 1994.