Hannah Garcia
Professor Craig Case
ENG124.01
27 January, 2017
MLK
When the name Martin Luther King is brought up, a sense of honor that follows. The reason for this occurs because MLK displayed courage not only with actions but vocally as well. King spoke for those who faced injustice within the black community, and understood that it needed to be heard. He presented this with a respectful manner which he engaged ethos, pathos, and logos to achieve his undying theme of courage. MLK had agreed to take part in a non-violent direct action program. He consequently place himself in Birmingham Jail as the result of participating in the resistance. With the intentions of facing the injustice, King used this opportunity to show the prejudice within the World. The simple idea of volunteering to place yourself in jail for a period of time can be unimaginable, yet King did not hesitate to be accept the invitation when it arrived. While facing incarceration; Martin Luther wrote a letter on the margins of a newspaper addressing the issue of injustice while exemplifying courage.
The letter itself illustrates courage. The willingness that King had to defend those who partook in the nonviolence resistance against racism was honorable. He starts off his letter addressing those who misunderstood the protests, marches, sit-ins, and more. “Dear Fellow Clergymen”, This simple entry to his letter shows a clear example of ethos. His character is brought out from the very beginning. MLK did not address these men in anger of their opposing views, but brought together their oneness in hopes to create a common ground. He creates a greater respect for himself by addressing them as a whole.
Dr. King uses his life as a platform to introduce what he affiliates himself with. “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. We have some eighty-five affiliated organizations across the South, and one of them is the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights. Frequently we share staff, educational and financial resources with our affiliates” (Page 1). The word of “honor” that King uses while referring to his duties shows not only how highly he views the services he participates in but also what he identifies himself with. This also simply gives him credibility towards the work he’s accomplishing that may go unnoticed or unheard. Using credibility engages logos inside his statements. The credence that his credibility directs towards benefits the introduction to his arguments as well as who he is as an individual.
Martin Luther King then goes on to explain why he is in Birmingham Jail. He states that he there by invitation, along with several colleagues of his. Along with this, King mentions that he is there more so because injustice is present in Birmingham. While discussing the reasoning for his stay he uses an example of the apostle Paul leaving his hometown to spread gospel. This provides the logic behind King’s determination to “spread the gospel of the freedom” to places elsewhere (Page 1). King once again selflessly provides an example of courage in attempt to bring a voice over the issues of injustice. The use of logic, facts, and reasoning shows how well King was able to display courage through logos. This gives reason. Showing a clear answer to the question; why?
King uses organization and logic when leading into another very powerful point with logos of how the black community is treated unjust. “In any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self-purification; and direct action. We have gone through all these steps in Birmingham. There can be no gainsaying the fact that racial injustice engulfs this community” (Page 2). King does a wonderful job of showing how the actions of the black community are not rash. The explanation of how the interest to effectively gone through the basic steps yet are still being harassed comes to show the injustice of Birmingham. King then goes on to explain how there are bombings in homes and churches, continuous unjust treatment in court, and segregation that has so prominently shown itself to be evident in Birmingham. In his words he says “These are the hard, brutal facts…” (Page 2). Dr. King makes it undeniably courageous conviction by using hard evidence to effectively make a stand against injustice.
King is clearly addressing those who disagree with the action of public protest. With this being the main issue. MLK does a wonderful job in providing a bold set of reason for why the actions of him and many others is vital to this reformation. With the realization that he was in conflict with authorities of the law; King sets out to find a mutual respect by stating why his actions are of good reason. “We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God given rights.” Showing that their voice has not been heard for generations, and yet it is their “God given” right, MLK shows that their silence will no longer be tolerated. King continues to use examples of segregation to show how unjust the world has been to people of color. He descriptively tells how the bitterness, separation, name calling, and the fear within families has arisen. This is meant to not only prove a point, but to strike the emotion of those he is addressing. With this, he affectively uses pathos to show the importance of his movement.
When King mentions family in his speech, there is a sensitivity that breaches for the reader. The intimacy that follows with the reference to family sparks an emotional experience in a reader. A person’s first memories are typically revolved around whomever they view as a family figure. On page 2 MLK uses the reference to watching the tears in a daughter’s eyes when trying to explain to her how she is not allowed to go to an amusement park because of her skin color. He ties in the emotions of the issue. The big issue. There is oppression and it is effecting every family in the black community. Dr. King shows courage by addressing the issue with more than his own personal concerns, but a major concern to so many other people. Using this form of pathos is very intentional and powerful. King stepped out and planted a seed of compassion for the oppressed.
Written on the margins of a newspaper, inside Birmingham Jail, a powerful voice was made tangible. This letter is an example of the courage King so persistently pursued. A selfless act that was made in hopes of justice. MLK so beautifully produces ways to speak boldly without letting emotions take over. Imagine being harassed continuously, fighting every day, yet no change is made. It is incredible and so courageous that King did not let the oppression overtake the movements he so diligently led. Courage is written down and was made literal in the form of a letter written by Dr. King.
King’s courage is something that is recognized by many today. Within his letter from Birmingham jail, MLK effectively uses ethos, logos, and pathos to inform those who misunderstood the reason for every public statement made by MLK and many others. A word of wisdom, knowledge, insight, and power. Inside the walls of Birmingham jail, Martin writes a letter that would stand as a symbol as unity and courage for years to come.