Rely
Trinity Torres
1. Project: The topic of this letter is the public demonstrations that had been occurring in Birmingham at the time of the letter’s writing and the purpose was to respond to the clergymen’s letter directed to King regarding those demonstrations.
2. Argument: King’s main argument is that the public demonstrations occurring in Birmingham were justified, rational responses to the ongoing racial injustice in that area and in the South as a whole.
3. Claim: “Frankly, I have yet to engage in a direct action movement that was ‘well-timed,’ according to the timetable of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation.”
4. This claim is in response to the clergymen’s claim, “[We] are convinced that these demonstrations are unwise and untimely.”
5. Evidence: For this claim, the clergymen used current events examples such as “We agree rather with certain local Negro leadership which has called for honest and open negotiation of racial issues in our area,” and “We commend the community as a whole and the local news media and law enforcement officials in particular, on the calm manner in which these demonstrations have been handled. We urge the public to continue to show restraint should the demonstrations continue…”
6. King’s evidence differed from that of the clergymen because he included personal anecdotes such as “For years now I have heard the word ‘Wait!’… This ‘Wait” has almost always meant ‘Never.'” He did, however, include the example of a current event as well by adding, “The nations of Asia and Africa are moving with jet-like speed toward the goal of political independence, and we still creep at horse and buggy pace toward the gaining of a cup of coffee at a lunch counter.”
7. Strategy: For their claim, the clergymen appealed to logos and used the strategy of exemplification by providing their current events examples.
8. King’s use of strategies was different than that of the clergymen. King appealed to pathos using the emotions of desperation and frustration with his personal anecdotes. He also used the strategy of a metaphor to describe the United States’ pace of progress toward racial equality. Lastly, he used the strategy of description to provide in-depth, sensory details relating to his personal experience, such as “But 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, brutalize, and even kill your black brothers and sisters with impunity…”
9. King used a tone of both sophistication and logic as well as a tone of frustration and emotionality throughout his letter and his letter fluctuated between those two tones at different points. His tone varied from that of the clergymen in that the clergymen’s tone was more orthodox and conventional than King’s and leaned more toward rationality than emotion.
11. I think that King was effective in convincing his audience because he agreed with the clergymen’s sentiments at certain points and used forms of logical evidence that he knew they would appreciate, however, he also made his disagreements clear and provided more personal, heartfelt forms of evidence as well that I feel made his argument well-rounded.
Alyssa Perry
The topic of this article is the same as the one written by the clergymen, racial injustice. The purpose of this response is to encourage justify Martin Luther King Jr.’s nonviolent approach to racial injustice. Martin Luther claims “[he has] tried to say that this normal and healthy discontent can be channeled through the creative outlet of nonviolent direct action,” responding to the clergymen stating that the nonviolent approach is “unwise and untimely.” Martin Luther King Jr. rebuttals the clergymen by stating that their unhappiness can be shown through peaceful ways that can be effective, which is the theme of the entire letter. To back up this claim, Martin Luther King Jr. uses exemplification of other groups of people from all over the world that have overcome societal barriers as evidence that the nonviolent approach can and will work. King and the clergymen used different strategies. Martin Luther King Jr. took a more emotional and thorough approach compared to the clergymen. He used a tone that was quite serious, but understanding. He wanted to ensure that what he was relaying was convincing and powerful, yet soft and thoughtful. The clergymen’s letter held more of an accusing tone. Martin Luther King Jr.’s audience was obviously the clergymen, but also members of the public that had doubts of his methods or to encourage his methods further. I do think this letter was more convincing compared to the clergymen. His specific responses to specific concerns made it more effective.
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APA
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