English 100 - Fall 2013
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
MLK - Letter from Birmingham Jail Rhetorical Analysis
Examine Martin Luther King's language in "Letter from Birmingham Jail" and how he appeals to his audience using various rhetorical techniques. Point out examples of his rhetoric using quotes, identify the rhetorical device being used and explain how and why his rhetorical language is effective and influential based on the rhetorical device employed.
Give at least 5 rhetorical examples. You may NOT repeat more than 2 quotes used from ANY previous posts (so first come, first serve!). If you use up to 2 quotes that are also present in previous posts, you must say/suggest something NEW, that has not already been said about that quote. In other words, no repeating what someone else has posted!
The post is due by midnight on Friday.
Have fun!
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1) “… 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 and even kill your black brothers and sisters…”
ReplyDelete(Pg. 3, third paragraph)
- The rhetorical device used in this paragraph is pathos because M.L.K is using emotional appeal towards the audience. The audience is feeling the pain and suffering that M.L.K speaks of and has an understanding of how he, himself, probably felt.
2) “Injustice anywhere is a threat to injustice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” (Pg. 1, fourth paragraph)
- The rhetoric in this paragraph is unity because M.L.K writes, “we are caught in an escapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny” meaning that if something happens to one, it happens to all. M.L.K is telling the audience that they don’t want to have injustice anywhere because it will affect them everywhere eventually.
3) “ This ‘Wait’ has almost always meant ‘Never’… ‘justice too long delayed is justice denied’.” (Pg. 3, second paragraph)
- In these sentences, logos is being used because M.L.K is using reasoning such as the idea of “now or never”. I agree with his reasoning because if something is put off too long the opportunity might be gone. His use of logos would make the audience think of “now or never” as well.
4) “But more basically, I am in Birmingham because injustice is here… I compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own home town.”
(Pg. 1, third paragraph)
- The rhetorical device used in this paragraph is telos because M.L.K is very straight forward about his purpose. The rhetoric of the situation is the Alabama Christian Movement for the Human Rights.
5) “To a degree, academic freedom is a reality today because Socrates practiced civil disobedience. In our own nation, the Boston Tea Party represented a massive act of civil disobedience. ” (Pg. 4, six paragraph)
- I agree with what M.L.K has said in this paragraph and he used facts making him have credibility to what he was saying. Ethos is being used and an audience would read what M.L.K had written and agree with what he said because it’s true due to trustworthiness.
Rachel, this is good, but there are some logical fallacies here. Appealing to ethos and credibility doesn't necessarily mean one will agree with the claim that follows.
DeleteAlso, you are assuming that the audience "will think of now or never," and, in the event that one does make this connection, would one necessarily agree that Dr. King's efforts are a "now or never" situation? Your evidence of that falls short.
1.“Just as the prophets of the eighth century B.C. left their villages and carried their "thus saith the Lord" far beyond the boundaries of their home towns, and 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 own home town.” (Pg.1, paragraph 3)
ReplyDelete•This is using Ethos because it is using other peoples stories that relate strongly to Martin Luther King Jr.. Other religious people that the churches look up to in a sense did the same thing Martin Luther King Jr. was trying to do. He was fighting for the freedom of desegregation. All of the religious men before him were also fighting for their own form of freedom. It is unfair for the churches to look down on Martin when the very same people they look up too, have gone against the church to get their freedom.
2.“We decided to schedule our direct action program for the Easter season, realizing that except for Christmas, this is the main shopping period of the year. Knowing that a strong economic-withdrawal program would be the by product of direct action, we felt that this would be the best time to bring pressure to bear on the merchants for the needed change. Then it occurred to us that Birmingham's mayoral election was coming up in March, and we speedily decided to postpone action until after Election Day.”(Pg. 2, Paragraph 3-4)
•This is using the rhetoric kiaros. The non-violent protesters of Birmingham knew the right time to strike. They knew the time and place would directly affect their protest. If they protested at the wrong time, the protest could be insufficient. They wanted Connor to lose the mayoral election before their protest began, so more people would be willing to help with their cause. Once he lost the protestors knew they could not wait any longer.
3.“The answer lies in the fact that there are two types of laws: just and unjust. I would be the first to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine “an unjust law is no law at all.”” (Pg. 3, Paragraph 4)
•The rhetorical device used is logos. This is using reasoning to explain why it is morally acceptably to disobey unjust laws. African Americans have been treated so unfairly so why should they obey laws that are not morally correct? They should not. This should be logically to most people.
4.“I doubt that you would have so warmly commended the police force if you had seen its dogs sinking their teeth into unarmed, nonviolent Negroes. I doubt that you would so quickly commend the policemen if you were to observe their ugly and inhumane treatment of Negroes here in the city jail; if you were to watch them push and curse old Negro women and young Negro girls; if you were to see them slap and kick old Negro men and young boys; if you were to observe them, as they did on two occasions, refuse to give us food because we wanted to sing our grace together." (Pg. 9, Paragraph 2)
a.This quotes uses the rhetorical device of pathos. This uses emotion to connect to the audience. This makes someone feel sick to their stomach when you read this. How poorly these people are being treated just is not fair. Martin Luther King Jr. wants the Clergymen to feel horrible.
5.“Birmingham is probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States. Its ugly record of brutality is widely known. Negroes have experienced grossly unjust treatment in the courts. There have been more unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches in Birmingham than in any other city in the nation.”(Pg. 1, Paragraph 6)
•This quote uses the rhetorical device of pathos. This is also something that is very emotional for some people to read. Martin Luther King Jr. uses this device because he wants people to feel how real segregation and inequality is to him.
1. “Just as the prophets of the eighth century B.C. left their villages and carried their “thus saint the Lord” far beyond the boundaries of their home towns.”
ReplyDeleteLogos - He is showing how other people have done the same thing that he is attempting to accomplish. He is following the path of ancient prophets which is logical. If these prophets were able to achieve their goal by bringing their ideas outside of their home town, he should be able to attain the same thing.
2. “But again I am thankful to god that some noble souls from the ranks of organized religion have broken loose from the paralyzing chains of conformity and joined us as active parters in the struggle for freedom.”
Ethos - These people were basically willing to give up their religion in order to help the African Americans achieve freedom. Some were kicked out of their church for doing this, but they knew it was the right thing to do, which makes them very trustworthy.
3. “We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny”
Telos - There is reasoning behind why he said “we”. Everyone is in this together so when something affects one person directly, it affects everyone indirectly. The outcome of any event, whether its a nonviolent protest, or the church deciding to not help the blacks, has some sort of affect on each and every person.
4. “There have been more unsolved bombing of Negro homes and churches in Birmingham than in any other city in the nation.”
Kairos - This serves as perfect support for his previous statement about how Negros have experienced grossly unjust treatment in the courts. These cases are left unsolved just because the victims are black. If the victims were white, there would be a detailed investigation along with death penalty to whomever committed the crime.
5. “I felt we would be supported by the white church. I felt that the white ministers, priests, and rabbis of the South would be among our strongest allies. Instead some have been outright opponents.”
Pathos - It is low spirited that the religious people would let down the blacks in such a way. They may have been scared to lose some of their religious followers, but it is no reason to become their enemies. What’s even more upsetting is that MLK still accepts and respects them which leaves the audience painfully heartbroken.
1. "I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham."
ReplyDeletePathos- MLK is using this emotional appeal so that the public will think to themselves why they too shouldnt stand up and fight for what they believe is right. This was a better way for him to get his point across than for him to basically put pressure on the public and tell them that they are doing something wrong. He instead used pathos and put the blame on himself.
2. "When you have seen hate filled policemen cures, kick and even kill your black brothers and sisters; when you see the vast majority of your twenty million negro brothers smothering in an airtight cage of poverty in the midst of an affluent society."
Pathos- He uses pathos in this situation to create emotional appeal among his audience. When people read this, it will strike something inside of them and make them want to stand up and do what is right. Also, many people at the time who read this could relate to this statement that Martin Luther King makes.
3. "when you have to concort an answer for a five year old son who is asking; "Daddy, why do white people treat colored people so mean?""
Telos/Pathos- This quotation that MLK uses can be classified as telos because the attitude of this statement is made in which makes people feel bad about what is going on in the world. People usually have sympathy when children are brought into the situations. This quote is classified as pathos too because it has emotional appeal to almost anyone who has children in their lives at the time of reading.
4. "I felt we would be supported by the white church. I felt that the white ministers, priests and rabbis of the South would be among our strongest allies."
Logos- This statement or assumption can be classified as logos because at almost any time in history it would make sense that the churches around the country would be the most tolerant and would help them as much as they could. Unfortunantely for MLK and his protesters, they were sadly mistaken.
5. "An unjust law is a code that a numerical or power majority group compels a minority group to obey but does not make binding on itself."
Logos- This makes perfect sense to a reader because at the time many of the people who would have been reading MLK's writings could relate to what he was saying and could see what was happening for themselves. This compels other to think too that many of the laws that were present at the time were very unjust and unfair.
1. "Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored."
ReplyDeleteLogos-MLK is trying to express that the actions White Americans have been taking towards Blacks using violence hasn't solved what they see as a problem. Instead they should try and understand that we are all human and should be seen as equal. Without violence. To see things rationally.
2." For years now I have heard the word "Wait!" It rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This "Wait" has almost always meant "Never." We must come to see, with one of our distinguished jurists, that "justice too long delayed is justice denied."
Pathos- MLK wants others to understand that its frustrating living in a world where Blacks are looked down upon and not allowed or given the same rights as the rest of those who live in society.
3."We will reach the goal of freedom in Birmingham, here and all over the nation, because the goal of America is freedom. Abused and scorned though we may be, our destiny is tied up with America's destiny."
Pathos-He wants to keep a positive outlook and being a man of faith doesn't want to lose hope for himself and his people. He wants to stay strong in hope that his people as well don't lose it either and see that all they've been doing to get their freedom and rights as humans will be well worth it in the end.
4."Hence segregation is not only politically, economically and sociologically unsound, it is morally wrong and awful."
Logos-MLK wants to make it clear that segregation isn't helping anyone. If they were able to hash out their differences and learn to coexist as one, we then could become a better country as a whole.
5."I am grateful to God that, through the influence of the Negro church, the way of nonviolence became an integral part of our struggle. If this philosophy had not emerged, by now many streets of the South would, I am convinced, be flowing with blood."
Pathos- MLK is grateful that Blacks aren't taking matters into their own hands and being violent, even though they have been put through hell and back with all the mistreatment by the rest of White society.
1. "As the weeks and months went by, we realized that we were the victims of a broken promise."
ReplyDeletePathos- This quote is relatable in that everyone, or almost everyone can think of a time where the have been disappointed by a broken promise. Everyone who has experienced this disappointment can say that it was not the best feeling in the world. They were hurt, upset, and maybe even angry. When a writer can evoke a memory within your readers about a certain time they have felt like this they will understand the pain that you are feeling, even if the magnitude of pain is different. Also using the word "victims" makes the reader feel sympathy.
2. "Actually, time itself is neutral: it can be used either destructively or constructively."
Karios- According to Merriam- Webster dictionary Karios is " a time when conditions are right for the accomplishment of a crucial action." This quote is a great example because he is saying that he knows that timing is important. MLK knows that making a wrong move could really hurt his cause. But he also knows that waiting until the right moment can really help them to construct the lives they want to have.
3. "I say as the minister of the gospel, who loves the church; who was nurtured in its bosom; who has been sustained by its spiritual blessings and who will remain true to it as long as the cord of life shall lengthen."
Ethos- He establishes that he is and always will be part of the church. MLK uses this to explain to his fellow clergymen, that he can stand up and fight for justice and use the church as part of his argument. That if he is doing this the other churches and clergymen should be helping their cause, by at least praying. Also he is showing the other fellow Christians that if he is a minister of the gospel, extremely religious, that they can too stand up for civil rights.
4. "Hence segregation is not the only politically, economically, and sociologically unsound, it is morally wrong and sinful."
Logos- The biggest indicator of logos in this quote is "hence." It shows that MLK is finishing up his previous though and also proving his point that segregation is unjust. Before he makes this statement he is talking about the Jewish philosopher Martin Buber and his definition of segregation. Segregation according to him is a regulation of people to the status of society. The MLK continues on with his justification of why he is right.
5. "Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon be lifted from our fear drenched communities, and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty."
Telos- This is MLK's very flowery way of telling the reader what he is fighting and sitting in jail for. He is saying that he hopes one day that everyone will be equal and that hate because of race will be gone. This is stated when he wants everyone to have a sense of brotherhood and love for one another.
1. "Yes, these questions are still in my mind. In deep disappointment I have wept over the laxity of the church. But be assured that my tears have been tears of love. There can be no deep disappointment where there is no deep love."
ReplyDeletePathos - MLK is using emotional appeal stating that he is disappointed in the church; however, he still holds a deep love for the church. He states that you cannot be disappointed in something if you do not love it.
2."I hope this letter finds you strong in the faith. I also hope that circumstances will soon make it possible for me to meet each of you, not as an integrationist or a civil rights leader but as a fellow clergyman and a Christian brother."
Ethos - MLK as the author states directly to the reader using "you". He wishes to meet them not as a leader (superior) but as an equal Christian brother. In his mind, everyone is equal.
3."Let us consider a more concrete example of just and unjust law. An unjust law is a code that a numerical or power majority group compels a minority group to obey but does not make binding on itself. This is difference made legal. By the same token, a just law is a code that a majority compels a minority to follow and that it is willing to follow itself. This is sameness made legal."
Logos - MLK gives explanations of just and unjust laws. According to Martin, an unjust law is a law that is applied to a minority group by a majority (segregation applied to negros by whites). A just law is a law that applies to everyone equally.
4."The other force is one of bitterness and hatred, and it comes perilously close to advocating violence. It is expressed in the various black nationalist groups that are springing up across the nation, the largest and best known being Elijah Muhammad's Muslim movement."
Kairos - In this quote, MLK states that there are several black nationalist groups springing across the nation. One of these is Elijah Muhammad's Muslim movement which was explained in "Learning to Read" by Malcolm X. Elijah's Muslim movement also took place during the Civil Rights Movement.
5."In any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiations; self purification; and direct action. We have gone through all these steps in Birmingham."
Logos - There are four basic steps that are explained in this quote, each needing a form of logical reasoning. The first is Collection of facts which requires one to decide if injustice exists. The others are negotiations and direct action which requires one be in search of a possible solution and take action if there is a problem.
1."When you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your
ReplyDeletespeech stammering as you seek to explain to your six year old daughter why she can't go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children..."
-Pathos: MLK is using the emotional appeal by putting his readers in the perspective of his fellow men and how they are being treated. He wants them to feel the injustice that is being done to them.
2."Just as Socrates felt that it was necessary to create a
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"
-Logos: MLK is citing Socrates as an example to make his actions and purposes more clearer. Trying to negotiate has been futile and his method of direct action is the only way for people to wake up to the issue at hand.
3."Was not Amos an extremist for justice... Jesus Christ, was an extremist for love, truth and goodness, and thereby rose above his environment. Perhaps the South, the nation and the world are in dire need of creative
extremists."
-Logos: MLK once again cites examples this time to broaden the meaning of the word "extremist". He is simply saying that the word can be interpreted in various ways. He explains that he is not an extremist for terror but an extremist for peace and understanding.
4."I wish you had commended the Negro sit inners and demonstrators of Birmingham for their sublime courage, their willingness to suffer and their amazing discipline in the midst of great provocation"
-Pathos: MLK wants everyone who criticized him for his actions that instead of commending the people who upheld segregation they should commend the brave souls who went to fight for their rights.
5."One day the South will know that when these disinherited
children of God sat down at lunch counters, they were in reality standing up for what is best in the American dream and for the most sacred values in our Judaeo Christian heritage, thereby bringing our nation back to those great wells of democracy which were dug deep by the founding fathers in their formulation of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence."
-Logos: MLK mentions the Declaration of Independence to explain the hypocrisy of how black people are being treated and how America has strayed too far from the values created by the founding fathers. A quote by Thomas Jefferson in the declaration sums up his statement “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
1. "So I am here, along with several members of my staff, because we were invited here. I am here because I have basic organization ties here."
ReplyDeleteEthos- His organizational ties were serving as the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. This shows his reasoning for being in Birmingham, and it shows that he has just as every right to be there as the clergymen do.
2. " We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed."
Logos- He points out something that everyone can relate to and it gives some reasoning to why they had to finally fight for what they thought was right. Everyone knows that the white moderates would have never changed their ways if nobody would have said anything to them because it wasn't affecting them in a negative way whatsoever. They were benefiting from it, so why would they ever want to change.
3. "...explain to your six year old daughter why she cannot go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her little eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children, and see the depressing clouds of inferiority begin to form in her little mental sky..."
Pathos- This is a perfect example of pathos because it really tugs on your heart strings. It makes you feel so bad for what they have to go through. It also gives insight to how resentment towards the whites started, even as children.
4."... there are just laws, and there are unjust laws. I would agree with st. Augustine that 'An unjust law is no law at all'"
Ethos- By drawing a quote from St. Augustine it shows credibility that he isn't just making everything up himself. Since St. Augustine was an advocate for saving grace it makes it seem very serious because MLK would't just bring him up unless he was really serious about what he believed in. He's saying that just because its a "law" doesn't mean it should be followed if it is unjust.
5. " I am afraid that it is much too long to take your precious time. I can assure you that it would have been much shorter if I had been writing from a comfortable desk, but what else is there to do when you are alone for days in the dull monotony of a narrow jail cell other than write long letters, think strange thoughts, and pray long prayers?"
Pathos/Mockery- In the beginning he is mocking them by making them feel like they are all conceited and are all to high and mighty to take the time out of their precious day to read his letter. Then he throws in some pathos by describing his setting in jail while they are all reading his letter in comfort.
"I have earnestly opposed violent tension, but there is a type of constructive, nonviolent tension which is necessary for growth…so must we see the need for nonviolent gadflies to create the kind of tension in society that will help men rise.."
ReplyDeleteLogos - MLK expresses his feelings toward violent versus nonviolent actions in order to create reform. He states that tension is needed to further growth and gives reasoning as to how the outcome would be if it were effective.
"Before closing I feel impelled to mention one other point in your statement that has troubled me profoundly. You warmly commended the Birmingham police force for keeping "order" and "preventing violence." I doubt that you would have so warmly commended the police force if you had seen its dogs sinking their teeth into unarmed, nonviolent Negroes."
Pathos - Pathos is evident in this passage due to the tone that MLK uses to expose the reader to his feelings toward the Birmingham police.
"It is unfortunate that demonstrations are taking place in Birmingham, but it is even more unfortunate that the city's white power structure left the Negro community with no alternative"
Kairos - This is a perfect example of Kairos because it explains how the location and the population within the city greatly effect how African Americans are treated. The oppression from the white power structure left the African American community with no other option, they had to react.
"We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God given rights. The nations of Asia and Africa are moving with netlike speed toward gaining political independence…"
Telos - The main objective of this whole text is to open the reader to the suffering of the oppressed. MLK exposes the reader to the hatred and racial crime that was occurring at the time. The purpose of this paper was to show that the oppressed need support to obtain their God given rights.
"We must come to see that, as the federal courts have consistently affirmed, it is wrong to urge an individual to cease his efforts to gain his basic constitutional rights because the quest may precipitate violence. Society must protect the robbed and punish the robber."
Logos - Using the example of the federal courts standing upon fighting for ones God given rights, MLK further supports his nonviolent campaign standards. He ends with the logical phrase of "Society must protect the robbed and punish the robber" showing that his people are being robbed of constitutional rights and the ones responsible should be punished.
1. "The white moderate is more devoted to 'order' than to justice.. who constantly says: 'I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action.'" (page 4, 1st paragraph)
ReplyDelete-Ethos: MLK is educating the white moderates of what they have said to him in the past. MLK has evidence that the white moderates are dismissing the real problem.
2. "'Justice too long delayed is justice denied'" (page 3, 3rd paragraph)
-Logos: MLK uses logic and reasoning to come to this conclusion. He even mentioned that it has by many years since blacks had been fighting for their freedom and they still remain as servants and slaves.
3. "There was a time when the church was very powerful-in the time when the early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed." (page 8, 3rd paragraph)
-Ethos: MLK recalls a time when the Christians stuck up for what they believed despite what others thought of them. He is comparing the Christians from the past to the present Christians.
4. "Jesus Christ was an extremist for love, truth and goodness." (page 7, 1st paragraph)
-Ethos: To support his claim of different kinds of extremists, MLK uses religious, influential figures from the past. He connects the idea of an extremist to good.
5. "So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind we will be." (page 7, 5th paragraph)
-Logos: MLK uses his logic and reasoning to draw to a conclusion to the idea of the existence of different types of extremists.
“In your statement you assert that our actions, even though peaceful, must be condemned because they precipitate violence. But is this a logical assertion? Isn’t this like condemning a robbed man because his possession of money precipitated the evil act of robbery? Isn’t this like condemning Socrates because his unswerving commitment to truth and his philosophical inquiries precipitated the act by the misguided populace in which they made him drink hemlock?”
ReplyDeleteThese sentences are using logos because King is trying to use various situations and events to reason with the clergymen he’s writing to. He literally says “But is this a logical assertion?” to emphasize the idea that people are making an illogical choice in condemning the peaceful protests.
“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 own home town. Like Paul, I must constantly respond to the Macedonian call for aid.”
This paragraph has ethos and logos. In this paragraph, King is implying his ethos and logos by saying that he is compelled to be just like Apostle Paul and that he believes he has to help Birmingham receive the right justice.
“We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God given rights. The nations of Asia and Africa are moving with jetlike speed toward gaining political independence, but we still creep horse and buggy pace toward gaining a cup of coffee at a lunch counter.
The rhetorical devices used are both logos and pathos. King is using the nations of Asia and Africa and the horse and buggy comparison as an example to incite fury into people so that they will fight for the blacks’ rights.
“There comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over, and men are no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair. I hope, sirs, you can understand our legitimate and unavoidable impatience.”
These sentences are using logos. King implies the logos when he talks about how black people are getting tired of being discriminated out of almost every aspect of life in the South and now wish to fight for their rights.
“Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial “outside agitator” idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds.
The rhetorical device being used here is unity. King is trying to get the people together to support any cause to make the United States a better place which in this case is blacks’ rights.
"A just law is a man made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law. To put it in the terms of St. Thomas Aquinas:An unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law."
ReplyDeleteThis quote reaches out to Martin Luther King's target audience reading this letter by using references to Saints God, and great philosophers recognized by the church. By including these great figures the audience is more compelled to read and more connected to the statements that MLK is making. In this quote MLK supports his claims using religious figures that shows he's using logos.
"A law is unjust if it is inflicted on a minority that as a result of being denied the right to vote, had no part in enacting or devising the law."
This is another rhetorical concept demonstrating logos. He's telling his audience that the laws are unfair because of who made them, and not only that but who didn't make them. He's pointing out the major fact that Negros weren't a part of the law making that oppressed them. If they had been the laws would probably be different.
"...our actions, even though peaceful, must be condemned because they precipitate violence. ... Isn't this like condemning a robbed man because his possession of money precipitated the evil act of robbery? Isn't this like condemning Socrates because his unswerving commitment to truth and philosophical inquiries precipitated the act by misguided populace in which they made him drink hemlock?
Pathos and Logos are both demonstrated in this quote. Pathos because it connects the audience of clergymen with the great figures that are spoken about in this quote. All those people are vulnerable and weak and didn't expect or want those things to happen when they did. It would make the reader feel unreasonable at the same time because they know the stories of these people very well. And if you put an African American in their shoes and twist the stories settings and events you have the Civil Rights Movement. This quote puts a logical perspective on why the Civil Rights Movement is happening.
"If this philosophy had not emerged, by now many streets of the South would, I am convinced, be flowing with blood."
This quote also demonstrates logos. He's letting his audience visually comprehend what the South would be like if his nonviolent philosophy had not been uncovered by the masses of Negroes fighting for their rights.
"You warmly commended the Birmingham police force for keeping "order" and "preventing violence." I doubt that you would have so warmly commended the police force if you had seen its dogs sinking their teeth into unarmed, nonviolent Nergroes. I doubt that you have have to quickly commended the policemen if you were to observe thrir ugly and inhumane treatment of Negroes here in the city jail; if you were to watch them push and curse old Negro women ad young Negro girls; if you were to see them slap and kick old Negro men and young boys; if you were to observe them, a they did on two occasions, refuse to give us food because we wanted to sing our grace together."
This is a very strong demonstration of pathos in MLK's letter. He basically opens the clergymen's eyes to the true horror that the policemen of Birmingham unleashed on the African Americans. If I had commended a police officer for doing a great job on taking care of the nonviolent protest I would feel disgusted with myself. The events that occurred there aren't very well known by people who weren't there, especially not from the perspective of an African American. This paragraph gives the reader feel pity for all the people that had to suffer from the people that were gladly commended.
1) "I wish you had commended the Negro sit inners and demonstrators of Birmingham for their sublime courage, their willingness to suffer and their amazing discipline in the midst of great provocation. One day the South will recognize its real heroes."
ReplyDeleteEthos - Martin Luther King states that everyone who stands up against segregation and fights for equal rights have amazing discipline and courage, they have a purpose. He says that one day the South will recognize all these people as heroes.
2) "But though I was initially disappointed at being categorized as an extremist, as I continued to think about the matter I gradually gained a measure of satisfaction from the label. Was not Jesus an extremist for love."
Ethos - In this quote, Martin Luther King says that he dislikes being branded as an extremist. However, he realized that Jesus Christ was an extremist for Love. MLK says that him and Jesus are both extremist for love and what they believe in.
3) "We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was legal and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was illegal. It was illegal to aid and comfort a Jew in Hitlers Germany."
Logos - Martin Luther King states that in Nazi Germany, everything they did was considered legal no matter how evil others considered it. He also says that what the Hungarian freedom fighters did to aid the Jews was illegal in Nazi Germany. He states that no matter horrible, what happened in Germany was the norm in their society.
4) "The purpose of our direct action program is to create a situation so crisis packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation. I therefore concur with you in your call for negotiation. Too long has our beloved Southland been bogged down in a tragic effort to live in monologue rather than dialogue."
Logos - In this quote, Martin Luther King's plan of Direct action says that they will create such a crisis that it will cause politicians to consider negotiations. Only that way will they be able to set up terms to condemn segregation. It is a logical plan that he is direct on following.
5) "But be assured that my tears have been tears of love. There can be no deep disappointment where there is no deep love."
Pathos - Martin Luther King says that there must be love for there to be disappointment. Although he is disappointed in the Church, he still loves it so much that he shed's tears of love from the pain it causes him. He loves all his Christian Brothers no matter the cause.
1) “I have the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization operating in every southern state, with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.”
ReplyDelete-Ethos- Martin Luther King is giving his credentials to his audience, the clergymen to why he is in Birmingham in the first place. Being a President of an organization that is very big and popular in the southern states is a big role that MLK plays, that gives him credibility,
2) ” For instance, I have been arrested on a charge of parading without a permit. Now, there is nothing wrong in having an ordinance, which requires a permit for parade. But such an ordinance becomes unjust when it is used to maintain segregation and to deny citizens the First-Amendment privilege of peaceful assembly and protest.”
-Ethos- MLK is demonstrating a first hand experience, which shows credibility since he was a witness of what happened to him. Since he lived that particular moment of getting arrested, he can explain to the audience first hand of what the situation consisted of.
3) “Like a boil that can never be cured so long as it is covered up but must be opened with all its ugliness to the natural medicines of air and light, injustice must be exposed, with all the tension its exposure creates, to the light of human conscience and the air of national opinion before it can be cured.”
-Logos- Here Martin Luther King is giving an analogy, comparing the injustice that is being covered up to that to a boil. MLK is arguing how the injustice that is covered up, like a boil, must be exposed so that it can be cured. By using an analogy, MLK is making his argument of injustices stronger.
4) “ Shallow understanding from people of goodwill is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is more bewildering than outright rejection.”
-Pathos- Here Martin Luther King is appealing to the audience directly by criticizing them. He is appealing to the white moderate by giving them a sense of guilt since they are of good attention but have not helped out, thus MLK is disappointed in them.
5) “A just law is a man made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law.”
-Logos- Here Martin Luther King is defining what a just law is and what an unjust law is. He defines just as a law being morally right, which is of good will, and unjust laws to be immoral, which is of ill will. MLK later goes on to define just and unjust another three times, defining the definition more that once shows strength in MLK’s writing by strengthening his argument of what just and unjust is and how it is portrayed in society.
1. “…when you suddenly find you tongue twisted at your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your 6year old daughter why she cant go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told that funtown is closed to colored children and see ominous clouds of inferiority beginning to form in her little mental sky and see her begining to distort her personality by developing an unconscious bitterness toward white people; when you have to concoct an answer for a fiveyear old son who is asking "daddy, why do white people treat colored people so mean?"
ReplyDelete-Pathos- King uses an emotional appeal in order to get the audience on his side. His rhetorical language and choice of diction such as “bitterness” and “tears” creates a feeling of sympathy and is very effective in helping the reader understand the situation from MLK’s point of view.
2. And Abraham Lincoln "This nation cannot survive half slave and half free." And Thomas Jefferson "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal ..."
-Ethos- He also uses ethos to provide a legitimacy to his argument. For example, by using Lincoln and Jefferson’s quotes, it creates a sense of credibility because they were people most white moderates respected and looked up to. By appealing to authority, it makes the audience think, “because so and so said this, it must be true.”
3. “Just as the prophets of the eighth century BC left their villages and carried their "thus sait the lord" far beyond the boundaries of their home towns, and just as the apostle Paul left his village of tarus 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 own home town. Like Paul I must constantly respond to the Macadonian call for aid.
-Ethos- King is also appealing to authority in this paragraph by comparing himself to these religious figures. He’s saying that if you condemn me of wrong doing than you’re also condemning these prophets.
4. For years now I have heard the word "wait!" It rings in the ear of every negro with piercing familiarity. This "wait" has almost always meant "never." We must come to seewith one of our distinguished jurist, that "justice too long delayed is justice denied."
-Pathos- King once again is appealing to the reader’s emotions. He wants the clergymen to know just how long they have waited for justice and equality. By using the words “never” or “wait” it shows a sense of remorse to me as a reader because it displays a sense of difficuly and unfairness to be constantly suffering as a black man.
5. A just law is a man made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law. To put it in the terms of St. Thomas Aquinas: An unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law. Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust.
-Logos- King uses a logicial appeal to define his idea of unjust and just laws. Since religious figures were so greatly looked up upon during this time, it creates a sense of credibility to the audience by appealing to authoriry.
1) "We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was 'legal' and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was 'illegal.'
ReplyDeletePathos/Logos- This is considered a form of logos because King gave an example on how their exist unjust laws. He states that just because the law exist it doesn't mean that it is a just law. This can also appeal to pathos because he use Adolf Hitler as and example of his unjust laws. This causes the reader to feel hatred toward unjust laws since we all know what happened to the people who had to deal with these unjust laws.
2) "Let me give you another explanation. A law is unjust if it is inflicted on a minority"
Logos- This quote was written by King and is an example of logos because it is and explanation to his reasoning of unjust laws. He makes the reader use their logic to believe that King's statement is right.
3) "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere...anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds."
Pathos- This is a form of pathos because King is revealing that we are all in this together. He gives the reader a sense in unity. So if someone is treated unjust we all should be mad and treat it as it was done to us.
4) “… 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 and even kill your black brothers and sisters...when your first name becomes 'nigger,' and your middle name becomes 'boy'...
Ethos- Although some can argue that this is a form of pathos you cannot deny that King shows a form of ethos in this quote. This is because he explains to his audience that he knows the pain the colored community has gone through. He knows this because he too is a colored man and has gone through the same pain as every other colored man, woman, or child. He shares a unity towards his audience that is why he has credentials to speak about the injustice committed to the colored people everyday.
5) "I had hopped that the white moderate would understand that the law and order exist for the purpose of establishing justice and that when they fail in this purpose they become the dangerously structured dams that block the flow of social progress."
Logos- This appeals to logic because King gives a statement that logically seems correct. He explains that the white moderate are to foolish to understand that they are hurting themselves as well when they allow for such unjust laws to be placed. He states that by doing so the white moderate are blocking the flow of social progress.
1) "I have the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization operating in every southern state..."
ReplyDelete-This is ethos because he is establishing credibility in saying what he is doing there and his high position. Once people hear he is president of an organization they are more likely to listen to what he has to say.
2)"Like Paul, I must constantly respond to the Macedonian call for aid."
-Here MLK uses ethos by comparing what Macedonian did in his times to what he is doing. MLK uses Paul as an example to show that he is doing the right thing.
3)"...but, as Reinhold Niebuhr has reminded us, groups tend to be more immoral than individuals."
-This is an example of logos because MLK is showing that he did his research and refers to proven theories. The factual statement helps the letter seem more legitimate.
4)"I would agree with St. Augustine that "an unjust law is no law at all"."
-Here MLK is using ethos by quoting a saint to create trustworthiness on what he is trying to make others think. Quoting a saint will make others realize that MLK's actions are good.
5)"There was a time when the church was very powerful- in the time when the early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed."
-This would be considered an example of pathos because through this statement MLK is making the church feel that they are not doing what they are meant to be doing.
1) "Since we so diligently urge people to obey the Supreme Court's decision of 1954 outlawing segregation in public schools, at first glance it may seem rather paradoxical for us consciously to break laws."
ReplyDeleteIn this quote, Martin Luther King uses ethos. My using the Supreme Court's ruling as an example, MLK's message seems more professional and as if it comes from an authoritative source.
2) "Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever. The yearning for freedom eventually manifests itself, and that is what has happened to the American Negro."
This quote demonstrates pathos because it reminds the audience that oppressed people will not stay that way. It is inspiring and relatable to some. The quote also uses logos because it is logical to think that someone who is oppressed or looked down upon will eventually rise up to claim their freedom.
3) "In spite of my shattered dreams, I came to Birmingham with the hope that the white religious leadership of this community would see the justice of our cause and , with deep moral concern, would serve as the channel through which our just grievances could reach the power structure."
This quote also uses pathos. The tone that Martin Luther King writes in makes him come across as disappointed and sad. All humans have felt disappointment so it is relatable.
4) "Is organized religion too inextricably bound to the status quo to save our nation and the world?"
In this passage, Martin Luther King uses logos to try and implore logic. He uses it to show an idea that should be considered. Even if the reader does not agree with him, MLK states his opinion in the form of a question, forcing the reader to question their own ideas or opinion on the topic.
5) "For there is the more excellent way of love and nonviolent protest. I am grateful to God that, through the influence of the Negro church, the way of nonviolence became an integral part of struggle."
This is an example of pathos. Martin Luther King uses the statement "I am grateful to God," showing that he is both relieved and thankful that nonviolence has been adopted as a way of life. Many people have felt this way so they can relate to how MLK is feeling. This quote can also be seen as ethos because MLK uses God as an authoritative figure. Because God is such a well respected figure to many people, the quote seems to have a stronger reputation.