A Letter From Eight White Clergymen and Letter from M. L. King, Jr - Essay Example

Argument Analysis: A Call For Unity: A Letter From Eight White Clergymen and Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr. Rhetorical Situation The exigence defines what prompted the authors to write the letters in the first place. For A Call for Unity written by the eight white clergymen, the exigence was the series of demonstrations held by Negro citizens that were allegedly led and directed by outsiders. In the case of King’s letter, the exigence was the need to respond to the clergymen’s contentions that as the outsider being mentioned, his actions were deemed unwise and untimely. The audiences were supposedly the local community and readers of the Birmingham, Alabama newspaper since the first letter were sent to its editor. However, one could surmise that the letter was, in fact, directed to King, as the noted leader of the civil rights movement, in behalf of the Negro community. King’s letter was directed to the clergymen, as most of his arguments addressed the clergymen’s position. The most obvious constraint was on the part of King who was incarcerated in the Birmingham jail during the time that he responded to the clergymen’s allegations. On the part of the clergymen’s letter, the constraints are their maintaining a conservative stance to use the most appropriate language so as not to project any biases to both white and Negro citizenry. Summary of Issues from the Two Points of Views The basic issue presented by the clergymen was the appeal for law, order and common sense in addressing the dilemma on racism. The basis position was for any resentment on alleged discriminations and racial slur should be filed in the proper court of law where legal proceedings and verdict should be respected and accepted. The clergymen contended that the series of demonstrations by Negro citizens were actually led and directed by outsiders, whose actions were deemed unwise and untimely. Finally, the letter highlighted the call for restraint, “for law enforcement officials to remain calm and to continue to protect our city from violence” (Carpenter, et al. 182). On the other hand, King’s basic issued focused on responding to the clergymen’s assertion that his leading the Negro citizens into demonstrations were unwise and untimely. King addressed this argument by initially proving that he was not an outsider; but that he was invited to address the injustices in Birmingham. Further, his letter addressed the clergymen’s position regarding his unwise action towards demonstration; revealed that action was necessary because promises by merchants were broken and that the need for direct-action versus negotiation was favored due to the community’s stance of refusal to negotiate. In terms of responding to the untimely issues, King expounded on concerns such as: the new administration must be prodded and that the Negro citizens have already waited for 340 years (King 186). Analysis The letter of the clergymen was more direct and concise containing only seven paragraphs. King’s response was comprehensively detailed and lengthy encompassing 50 paragraphs and 14 pages. King was clear in addressing the issues of the clergymen indicating his actions as the leader of the demonstrations as unwise and untimely. He warrants that the non-violent actions were the most appropriate means to address the racial discrimination in Birmingham and their actions could not be considered unwise because a rational four step process was applied: “collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self-purification; and direct action” (King 184). The issue of untimeliness was responded to by King as he emphasized the need to prod the new administration to create some tension and lead them to act. Further, he argued that the Negro citizens have waited for too long for more than 340 years and could therefore not be considered that no time was spent to reflect and think of the course of action. King warrants that the present laws were actually unjust and expounded on a differentiation between just and unjust law where “any law that degrades human personality is unjust” (King 188). This assertion was supported by disclosing that “all segregation statues are unjust because segregation distorts the soul and damages the personality” (King 188). The clergymen asserted that their actions, although non-violent must be condemned for precipitating violent actions. Through the use of effective analogies (robbed man and his possessions; Socrates and his unwavering commitment to truth; and Jesus being crucified because of his devotion to God) King warrants that the clergymen’s arguments were illogical. He backed his declarations by concluding that their non-violent actions should actually be commended for this is the most effective means to gain their equal constitutional rights. Fallacies and Rebuttals One of the fallacies exposed by King was the clergymen’s misconception of time in proposing that “All Christians know that colored people will receive equal rights eventually…” (King 190). The white moderate men who argued this was rebutted by King when he indicated that “time itself is neutral; it can be used either destructively or constructively” (King 190). In so doing, King defended that their non-violent actions were done in acknowledgement of the right time as justice could not wait to see Negroes being continually discriminated and prejudiced. Another fallacy exposed was the teaching of the church’s religious leaders who seem to promote desegregation but in truth, their actions revealed that “those are social issues with which the gospel has no real concern” (King 193). King’s rebuttal focused on the church stance to be silent and not to disturb the status quo. He acknowledged that “if today’s church does not recapture its sacrificial spirit… it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning” (King 194). Ethical and Unethical Qualities Upon close review and evaluation, both letters conform to the ethical code of standards expected of their profession. Both letters were written by religious leaders, including King, who wrote in the capacity of the President of Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Actually, King’s introductory remarks validated his respect as he wrote: “My Dear Fellow Clergymen” (King 183). Conclusion After reviewing and analyzing both letters in great detail, one is convinced that the letter of King was far effective in gaining the emotional, logical and ethical appeal of readers, and particularly of the addressee. The effectiveness was gauged in terms of King’s appropriate use of language, argumentative support, rebuttals and by disputing fallacies and unsubstantiated contentions. He had addressed all the issues and concerns delivered by the clergymen with clear support of logical reasoning and critical thinking. In the end, his concluding remarks noted a unifying invitation to see the issues not from within divisive perspectives, but, in his own words: “as a fellow clergyman and a Christian brother” (King 197) that clearly and effectively answered the clergymen’s call for unity. Works Cited Carpenter, CCJ and et al. "A Call for Unity: A Letter from Eight White Clergymen." Chapter 8: Writing the Argument Analysis Paper: Review and Synthesis. n.d. 181-183. King, Martin Luther Jr. "Letter in Birmingham Jail." Chapter 8: Writing the Argument Analysis Paper: Review and Synthesis. n.d. 183 - 197. Read More