Comparing Mlk's I Have A Dream And Letter From Birmingham Jail

801 Words4 Pages

MLK is a kind of man who puts his mind to something and never gives up. His two pieces of work “I have a Dream Speech” and “Letter from Birmingham Jail” both explain why segregation and discrimination are an issue. The strategy he uses is to grab readers and listeners attention is by using charged language and stirring emotions also called as “Emotional Appeal” or “Pathos” style of work. MLK does this by expressing his thoughts and feelings on what he thinks is right and what is wrong about the whole ordeal. He takes into consideration what the Negro women and children are experiencing, and what they’re suffering through. King wants this to end immediately, but he can’t do it alone without the help of the negro, and white men and women who …show more content…

Throughout the Speech and the Letter, he covered areas that needed attention, such as segregation and how bad the Negroes are being treated as to the White men and women being treated not nearly as bad. MLK had spoken in the “Dream Speech” that “Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksand of racial Injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood” (MLK Dream, 6). MLK is speaking in a way to attract listeners and use similes to let people realize that we need to do something, and do it quickly. MLK wrote a letter from the Birmingham Jail asking why he was thrown into the cell, and letting people know why he is protesting the way he is and what his beliefs are. He mentions also on how to run a nonviolent campaign, which he was currently attempting to do before getting bombarded by the white police. He goes into depth on how Negroes are being treated worse than the white men and women. MLK quoted from what John Bunyan has said which is “I will stay in jail to the ends of my days before I make a butchery of my conscience” (MLK, 31). MLK is basically saying that he will stay faithful to his beliefs and his movement, he won’t give in, he will fight until justice is …show more content…

This strategy is done by using a clear line of reasoning supported by evidence such as facts, data, or expert testimony. I didn’t think MLK used “Logos” more common because although he does state a few facts, he speaks and writes in a way where the listener or the reader can understand what is being said by using other things to compare it. Two examples I found where MLK used the “Logos” style. MLK said in his “Dream Speech”, “One hundred years later, the life of Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination” (MLK Dream, 3). He is stating that after a century later, the issue is still present and hasn’t changed at all, informing the listener. The other Quote I found that MLK wrote while in the jail cell was, “We have waited 340 years for our constitutional and god given rights” (MLK Jail, 14). King has mentioned that it’s been almost three and a half centuries for the rights they deserved from the start, and now they’re finally receiving them. Using “Logical” evidence when speaking or writing isn’t a great approach when trying to persuade a group of people to support your movement, it is more effective when presenting a new idea or something you think is important that needs to be shined

Open Document