Letter from Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King Jr.

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Letter from Birmingham Jail
The author of the letter (King) argues by providing a detailed and explicit justification of the demonstrations that occurred in Birmingham. King ensures that he leaves no stone unturned in coining his message in a manner that the intended audience (fellow clergy) will understand his considered point of view. He provides facts and logical arguments to make his letter persuasive and believable. In addition, King is also sure to provide a personal touch of how he feels about the whole experience and why he believes that the course for which he was jailed must continue. The author is trying to argue that the racial discrimination of the black people in Birmingham or any other place is not justifiable. He says that injustice anywhere potentially violates justice everywhere.
Further, he is also trying to argue that he followed law and order in leading the demonstrations. He argues that before the demonstrations, he had tried all the other ways of reconciliation without success. He, therefore, considers the criticism by the fellow clergy unjustified and potentially unthoughtful. King is also trying to argue that it is important for all people to live together in peace and have equal opportunities without being discriminated against based on race. The purpose of making his argument is to hopefully make the fellow clergy understand the reason for his actions and potentially support his cause.
King extensively uses the rhetorical strategies of pathos, logos, and ethos. Since the letter is long, these appeals are ubiquitously present. Let us start with an explanation of how King uses pathos. King elucidates on the plight of the black people when it comes to the issue of human rights. In the first place, he identifies that he was jailed for trying to defend such rights. He records that he had been detained in different jails in America because of his pursuit of justice. He also observes that he had been denied the right to make a phone call. Using pathos, King further appeals to the clergymen to consider the plight of the blacks and understand that the authorities of the day had violated the constitution by violating the provisions of human rights. He also argues that...