Effective Use of Language in Martin Luther Kings Letter...

In April 16, 1963 Martin Luther King wrote a letter from Birmingham jail that was addressed to the eight leaders of the white Church of the South, the â€Å"white moderates†. Dr. King’s letter talks about how unfair the white Americans were towards the black community, and how true civil rights could never be achieved. Throughout his letter, King talks about how unfair the white Americans were towards the black nation, he talks about the disrespect, unfair and unjust treatment the black community had received from the white Americans. In the letter King’s response is very moving and effective to the readers, he has achieved this by effective use of language, stylistic devices such as the use of imagery, similes and metaphors, and by using†¦show more content†¦Dr. King explains to readers that from how much the Black community had heard the word wait over and over again, even though they had waited and waited, there wasn’t any result. Segregation had had many effects on the black nation, to the point that it started building up ones character, â€Å"See the depressing clouds of inferiority begin to form in her little mental sky and see her begin to distort her little personality by unconsciously developing a bitterness towards white people†, King shows readers that segregation is even affecting little children, that it is starting to build up a young girls character and is contributing to the child developing hatred â€Å"bitterness† towards the white Americans. King makes readers imagine a black cloud settling in a young girls brain mentally, when instead she should have an image of a colorful blue sky with a rainbow, isn’t that suppose to be part of a 6 year-old’s imagination? King gives readers an image of destruction civil disobedience had created in the black community, especially in the young innocent little children. Martin Luther king asserts that the white Americans don’t make logical assertions, he says â€Å"In your statement you assert that our actions eventhough peaceful, must be condemned because they precipitate violence. But is this a logical assertion?†. Dr. King proves his point by using this rhetorical questionShow MoreRelatedBirmingham Jail Functional Theory1638 Words   |  7 PagesMartin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail (1965) is important from both historical and sociological points of view. It is an example of self-sacrifice as in idea for the of equality of all people. Formally, King addresses this letter that he wrote while in Birmingham jail at the clergymen who opposed his protests. In fact, he applies it to everyone who approves of racism, and considers the methods of nonviolent struggle to be too radical and far fetched from achieving an actual goalRead MoreRhetorical Language : The Power Of Words1534 Words   |  7 PagesRhetoric al Language: The Power of Words Ever since humans have existed, their ideas, and philosophies existed along with them; however, these ideas would split them into two groups, those who agree, and those who do not agree with the idea. Additionally, there are people who truly believe that everyone should believe in their ideology; therefore, will take certain measures to make people believe in their ideas. One certain measure is using their own words because words can have its own power. 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At the time, he served as the leader of the Christian Leadership Conference of the South, and was called upon to come to Birmingham and take part in a peaceful program. All the participants of the Alabama based Christian movement planned non-violent