Letter from Birmingham (Response Paper) - Essay Example

Nevertheless, one assassination attempt cost his life although he remains an icon in the history of America and his written work is fascinating literary work. Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is powerful, compelling, and unwavering. In this regard, the letter indicates the astounding aptitude by King to show cruelty and adverse behavior towards minorities in America, which demonstrates King’s intelligence. All the way through the letter, a response to eight clergymen from Alabama, King did not deviate too far from his fight for parity towards African-Americans in Birmingham and equality to the rest of the world (Barnet and Bedau 292).

In this case, King wrote the letter to remind the clergy from Birmingham of the importance of unity amongst them in order for them to attain the common goal of equality amongst the citizens of America. In effect, the letter did not look to fuel the embers of segregation in America. Instead, the letter addressed issues that King felt that the clergy from Birmingham failed to address in their letter to King. . saith the Lord’ message far beyond…and as Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus…I like Paul, I must respond to the Macedonian call for aid” (qtd.

in Barnet and Bedau 294). This allusion shows the clergy and the reader of King’s intent and determination to ensure that the people of Birmingham and the rest of the country achieved equality. In addition, I find the allusion that refers to Biblical quotes enhance King’s character while, at the same time, it illuminates on a mutual bond between African Americans and the white clergy in Birmingham, which is the bond of religion. King’s brilliance in using rhetoric broadens his argument in order to ensure that widening subsets of the audience feels included in the letter, which I would like to refer as the nonreligious audience and the intelligence audience.

In this case, King states, “Just as Socrates felt that it was necessary to create a tension in the mind…so must we see the need for nonviolent gadflies to create the kind of tension in a society that will help men rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood (qtd. in Barnet and Bedau 296). In this regard, King manages to bring the nonreligious people into the discussion by adequately responding to concerns that I think fell out of the religious institution with a response based within the archetype of academic.

Thus, none of the audience will feel alienated since King manages to change the discourse of the letter from the religious discourse it was taking for awhile. In effect, it becomes an all-inclusive discussion. King claimed that he went to Birmingham hoping “that the white moderates would see the need” for their cause in fighting for justice (qtd. in Barnet and Bedau 303). In this