Dr. King felt that “There comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over and men are no longer willing to be plunged into an abyss of injustice where they experience the bleakness of corroding despair” (King pg. 2). Dr. King states throughout his letter that injustice has been going on long enough and there is no more waiting. He felt that something needed to be done.
Dr. King immediately takes advantage of using pathos by writing “While confined in the Birmingham city jail, I came…” (King pg. 1). He creates a vivid picture in the readers’ mind of this cramp small filthy jail cell with barely no room to breathe; somewhat like the Negros at that point of time. Even though he is locked up for no good reason other than practicing his constitutional right of freedom of speech he still shows respect to the clergymen by calling them “men of genuine goodwill” (King 1). By not coming off so aggressive seemed to appeal to many of the white