The American civil rights movement through the 1950’s and 60’s was a turning point for our country as a whole. Probably the most influential leader of that time was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. King became a leader because of his ability to captivate crowds with his powerful speeches. One of the most important letters he wrote was while he was incarcerated in Birmingham, Alabama. The letter was to eight fellow clergymen that were from Alabama. The “Letter From Birmingham Jail” was in response to some criticism from the clergymen. King calmly tries to state his purpose for his crusade for civil rights in the south. He uses three rhetorical strategies in his letter like: facts, allusions, and questions to inform the clergymen about what he and his people are dealing with as a whole“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” said King in his letter (page 317). King asks his readers questions about him and his people’s actions and then answers them in an intelligent and strong willed manner. He asks, “Why direct action? Why sit-ins, marches, and so forth? Isn’t negotiation a better path?” (page 318). King asked the questions that the clergymen would have asked him. By asking those questions, then he can answer the questions that are main points in his letter that clarify some of the actions that have been enforced in the south. This was a strong rhetorical strategy for King to persuade his readers. King being a very intelligent and wise man knew how to approach all the different kinds of clergymen he wrote to in the letter. One of the rhetorical strategies he used while writing this letter was the ...
