Dr.

Kings Letter from

Birmingham J ail
Daniel Cox, Amanda Hendrix, Devin Moore,
Zelgai Saleh, Ben Tobin, Nathan Zelalem,
Marcello Novella
Paragraph 14
Evidence
Perhaps it is easy for those who
have never felt the stinging dark
of segregation to say, Wait.

...when you are harried by day
and haunted by night by the fact
that you are a Negro...when you
have no forever fighting
desegregating sense of
nobodiness then you will
understand why we find it
difficult to wait.
Tone, Commentary, Metaphors, and Effect
Using balanced view
Qualification with perhaps
Implying that he is about to propose a
counter-argument

Comes back in a full circle from start
Expresses anger and outrage through
parallel structure (when you)
Mentions harsh examples of what his
people have had to go through to
generate pathos
Outraged tone
Paragraph 15
Effects
One has not only a legal but a
moral responsibility to obey just
laws, conversely, one has a
moral responsibility to disobey
unjust laws.
Tone, Commentary, Metaphors and Effect
Common sense
Logos
Conditional if/then statement
Ethos
States that people must obey just
laws
Draws back anger after burst in
paragraph 14
Makes reference to Brown v. Board of
Education to establish a connection

Paragraph 16
Evidence
All segregation statutes are
unjust because segregation
distorts the soul and damages the
personality
A just law is a man-made code
that squares with moral law or the
law of God. An unjust law is a
code that is out of harmony with
moral law.
It is morally wrong and awful
Tone, Commentary, Metaphors and Effect
Tone of anger
o Anger b/c
segregation/discrimination
Comparison of just vs. unjust -> cites
Gods authority as (explicit) evidence of
the injustice of discrimination
Audience: white congregation who
partake in the widespread segregation
Ethos -> used credible sources as
support for his claim
Paragraph 16
...the law of God
To put it in the terms of St.
Thomas Aquinas
to use the terminology of the
Jewish philosopher Martin Buber
I can urge men to obey the 1954
decision of the Supreme Court
Citing God and saints gives religious
support to his point
o Citing a Jewish philosopher
broadens range of influence
o Religious fervor of the time made
these authorities viable evidence
for his claim
Referencing a Supreme Court
decision gave legal background to his
claim
o Intended for audience of officials
in Washington to show their
actions are unconstitutional
Paragraph 17
Evidence
An unjust law is a code that a
numerical or power majority group
compels a minority group to obey
but does not make binding on
itselfa just law is a code that a
majority compels a minority to
follow and that it is willing to follow
itself.
Tone, Commentary, Metaphors and Effect
Comparison of just vs. unjust ->
metaphor regarding govt is unjust
through their difference in legal
opinions
Accusing tone
o Accusing govt of being
unjust/oppressive
Implies unfairness through
discrimination of all groups
o Rights of man includes all groups,
not just whites
Discusses legality of this sameness
and difference
Paragraph 18
Evidence
A law is unjust if inflicted on a
minority that...had no
part...devising the law.
Can any law enacted under
such circumstances [having
zero negro voters registered]
be considered democratically
structured?

Tone, Commentary, Metaphors and Effect
Dr. King has a very angry tone
Basically challenges his audience,
which is all of america: If the U.S.A.
claims to be democratic, how does
having a large part of the population
not voting back that up?
Asks two rhetorical questions-both
about democracy and if anything can
be considered democratic if it does not
include the minority.
Paragraph 19
Evidence
Sometimes a law is just on its face and
unjust in its application.
[A law] becomes unjust when
it...denies citizens the first amendment
privilege of peaceful assembly and
protest.
Tone, Commentary, Metaphors and Effect
Takes the supreme law of the land and
shows how even that doesn't stop
segregation.
Points out the fine difference between
two laws, needing a permit to parade and
exercising First Amendment rights
Word of law vs. Spirit of law vs.
individual interpretation of law
Comparisons for Unjust Laws
St. Augustine says that "an unjust law is no law at all" (paragraph 15)
An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with morality, one that is not rooted
in natural and eternal law (paragraph 16)
An unjust law is a code that a majority compels a minority to obey but does not
obey itself (paragraph 17)
A law is unjust if it is inflicted on a minority that has no right to vote, enact, or
devise that law (paragraph 18)
Laws are unjust on application, such as using a law for the sole purpose of
maintaining segregation (paragraph 19)
Paragraph 20
In no sense do I advocate evading
or defying the law, as would the
rabid segregationist
I submit that an individual who
breaks a law that conscience tell him
is unjust and who willingly accept
the penalty of imprisonment in order
to arouse the conscience of the
community over its injustice, is in
reality expressing the highest
respect for law
Martin Luther King starts
paragraph in an apologetic tone.
He also states that he isnt
inciting rebellion or the defying
of authorities.
He justifies his actions,
explaining why its the right
thing to do.
Paragraph 21
Of course there is nothing new with
this kind of civil disobedience. It was
evidenced in the refusal of Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego to obey the
laws of Nebuchadnezzar, on the
grounds that a higher moral law was
at stake.
Martin Luther King uses this
paragraph as a recipient of
examples for his previous
paragraph.
He gives a number of examples of
historical characters and events
where civil disobedience was key
to achieving ones goals.
The examples he provides are: the
early christians, Socrates and the
Boston Tea Party
Mentioning the Boston Tea Party
was an efficient tactic, because it
relates to the American People.
Paragraph 22




Paragraph 23
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 25
Evidence
In your statement you assert that our actions,
even though peaceful, must be condemned
because they precipitate violence.
Isn't this like condemning a robbed man
because his possession of money precipitated
the evil act of robbery? Isn't this like
condemning Jesus because his unique god-
consciousness and never-ceasing devotion to
Gods will precipitated the evil act of
crucifixion?
Society must protect the robber and punish
the robber.

Tone, Commentary, Metaphors and Effect
MLK boldly justifies his peaceful protests
using logic.
He persuades the audience with examples of
familiar events in which we would correct an
injustice.
His tone is inquisitorial as he waits for the
audience to realize the answer.
He makes allusions to major characters in
history such as Jesus and Socrates.
MLKs persuasive techniques demonstrate that
we knew the right answer all along and, to
continue to stand against him would also mean
opposing logic itself.

Paragraph 26
Evidence
Such an attitude is a tragic
misconception of time. Actually, time
itself is neutral I feel people that the
people of ill will have used time much
more effectively
Time is always ripe to do right.
Tone, Commentary, Metaphors and Effect
MLK conveys a remorse for the opinion
some of his allies hold. His
interpretation for the concept of time
demonstrates to the audience how such
an opinion only encourages detrimental
effects upon the movement.
His tone and commentary transform into
those which are inspiring, using phrases
as time is always ripe to do right.
He then motivates the audience to think
logically, answer his questions for
themselves, and then act upon his
inspirations.