On April 12, 1963, a group of clergymen trivialized the demonstrations held by some Negro citizens as “unwise” and “untimely”. The clergymen dismissed that such actions would incite only violence and hate to build up in the community. Dr. Martin Luther King Junior, the leader of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, articulates that their convictions are wrong. In his response letter, King argues that nonviolent resistance promotes peace, and by using many rhetorical devices but mainly allusions and repetition and imagery, he eloquently justifies that his demonstrations advance camaraderie in the community and a lack of them leads to disparity.
One of Dr. King’s rhetorical methods of encouraging peace in his community is his exemplary …show more content…
King warns that Hitler’s Holocaust actions were legal during World War II, but many people consider his actions illegal and inhumane today. What Dr. King wants the clergymen to understand is that the same concept about the Holocaust being legal then but being illegal now fits similarly to the concept about racism in Birmingham (para. 22).
Furthermore, another one of Dr. King’s rhetorical methods of endorsing peace is his effective uses of repetition and imagery. Dr. King utilizes repetition in his letter in order to emphasize the conditions or reasons of an action. When Dr. King indicates why he has positioned himself in Birmingham, he uses a chain of repetitions: “I, along with several members of my staff, am here because I was invited here…I am here because I have organizational ties here… I am here because there is injustice here” (para. 2-3). Through his precise words in his repetitions, Dr. King gives the clergymen a sample of his fluid and direct and strong consciousness he uses throughout his letter. What is more, Dr. King’s repetitions include rhetorical questions. In paragraph 10, Dr. King asks, “Why direct action? Why sit-ins, marches, and so forth? By questioning the clergymen in this way, Dr. King hopes the clergymen will adopt his perspective that demonstrations lead to negotiations and growth, not violence and
One of Dr. King’s rhetorical methods of encouraging peace in his community is his exemplary …show more content…
King warns that Hitler’s Holocaust actions were legal during World War II, but many people consider his actions illegal and inhumane today. What Dr. King wants the clergymen to understand is that the same concept about the Holocaust being legal then but being illegal now fits similarly to the concept about racism in Birmingham (para. 22).
Furthermore, another one of Dr. King’s rhetorical methods of endorsing peace is his effective uses of repetition and imagery. Dr. King utilizes repetition in his letter in order to emphasize the conditions or reasons of an action. When Dr. King indicates why he has positioned himself in Birmingham, he uses a chain of repetitions: “I, along with several members of my staff, am here because I was invited here…I am here because I have organizational ties here… I am here because there is injustice here” (para. 2-3). Through his precise words in his repetitions, Dr. King gives the clergymen a sample of his fluid and direct and strong consciousness he uses throughout his letter. What is more, Dr. King’s repetitions include rhetorical questions. In paragraph 10, Dr. King asks, “Why direct action? Why sit-ins, marches, and so forth? By questioning the clergymen in this way, Dr. King hopes the clergymen will adopt his perspective that demonstrations lead to negotiations and growth, not violence and