ESSAY Az 1st

ESSAY A
Rhetorical Analysis Essay
During the 1960s, the Civil Rights Movement was at its peak with Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. as the face of it. Through peaceful marches, sit ins, and boycotts, the Civil Rights
movement was determined to get its voices heard. In Martin Luther King, Jr.’s letter to
Alabama’s clergymen, “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, MLK demonstrates the impact fullness of
imagery, rhetorical questions, and allusion as he paints the life African Americans have to face
and point out the hypocrisy of the logic white people validate when oppressing black people.
MLK is known for utilizing imagery throughout many of his famous speeches and letters.
He does this to create a scenario in his intended audience's head and visualize the injustice black
people face. He demonstrates this when he describes, “When you take a cross country drive and
find yourself having to sleep in the uncomfortable corners of your automobile because no motel
will accept you.” MLK paints an image of oppression which is normal for African Americans at
this time. Along with using imagery, there is pathos in his statement as his intentions are to
reveal life black people have had to endure and evoke a sense of guilt from the audience. This
strengthens his argument because not only is he illustrating the image of discrimination, he is
also jerking on heart strings to cause guilt to form in the audience. King then takes this a step
further as he states, “You seek to explain to your six year old daughter that she can't go to the
public amusement park, and see the tears welling up in her eyes.” He implants the image of a
crying child to not only intensify his argument, but to get a heart throbbing reaction from the
audience due the crying child. This brings urgency and amplifies his point which is to show the
hypocrisy behind the logic officials in Alabama are using to convict black people peacefully
protesting as violent.
Before he became the face of the Civil Rights Movements, King was a pastor which
enabled him to learn how to engage with people and, in a way, light a fire of passion in the hearts
of others. Due to this, he gives a variety of biblical references. King proclaims, “Like Paul, I
must constantly respond to the Macedonian call for aid.” He compares himself to Paul, a saint
and important figure in Christianity. At that time, religion was highly paramount in America.
King’s reference to the bible allows a stronger connection to Christianity, which the clergymen
hold at utmost importance. King then proceeds to point out the hypocrisy the clergymen are
bluntly showing in a statement, “Since we so diligently urge people to obey the Supreme Court's
decision of 1954 outlawing segregation in the public schools, it is rather strange and paradoxical
to find us consciously breaking laws.” He reminds the clergymen, by referencing the Supreme
Court’s decision of 1954, that segregation is outlawed in public schools. He points out the
hypocrisy the clergymen demonstrate by saying that they are breaking the law. They arrest King
for peacefully protesting, which is a right given by the constitution, but they openly break a law
made by the Supreme Court.
Not only does King use biblical references to set a connection, he also uses rhetorical
questions to get his audience to open their eyes and think. “In your statement you asserted that
our actions, even though peaceful, must be condemned because they precipitate violence. But
can this assertion be logically made?”, King states. His rhetorical question, once again, points out
the flawed logic the clergymen are using to justify their actions in arresting King. This impacts
his audience by causing them to open their eyes and question if King is right. Once again using a
biblical reference, King asks, “Isn't this like condemning Jesus because His unique God-
consciousness and never-ceasing devotion to His will precipitated the evil act of crucifixion?”
He once again compares his situation to an important figure in Christianity. This grabs the
audience's attention even more since religion played a huge role in life back in the 60s and even
now. Adding on, it invokes a sense of pathos as well. People sympathize with Jesus and how he
was killed for spreading the word of the lord. King establishing that comparison and connection
to what is currently unfolding can make people realize how hypocritical the clergymen are
Once again, King does not fail to demonstrate the impact of imagery, alusion, and
rhetorical questions. Through this letter, he was able to make history. His letters and speeches
successfully obtained justice for all Black Americans, whose lives were bombarded with racial
stereotypes, hate crime, and many violent acts.

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ESSAY A

Rhetorical Analysis Essay

made by the Supreme Court.

stereotypes, hate crime, and many violent acts.

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