Letter by Martin Luther King - Article Example

King supports the argument stating that civil disobedience is one of the main tools used by historical figures and nations to protect and justify their rights and freedom. "There is nothing new about this kind of disobedience" (p.5). Stating a thesis, King uses historical information to attract listeners' attention at once. The author shows that Americans should be free from segregation and racial discrimination using direct actions, because "freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor" (p.3). The argument is aimed to persuade and convince its audience of the truth of his statement explaining that non-violent civil disobedience has deep historical roots and closely connected with human rights movements.

King attempts to persuade listeners that all people are equal and racial discrimination is based on unjust laws that should be eliminated. King uses definitional arguments to explain just and unjust laws. He explains that segregation laws are unjust laws: "Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that 'an unjust law is no law at all" (p.4). These arguments are crucial for the speech because they explain to unprepared listeners the principles and social rules of a free society and equal rights.

Definitional arguments help listeners to grasp the idea at once and inform them about legal rules and principles of social justice. It is possible to say that King skillfully structured the essay using supportive arguments and persuasion. A small introduction is impressive and captured the listeners' attention at once. Using ethos, King appeals to the trustworthiness of the speaker. King says: "I think I should indicate why I am here in Birmingham since you have been influenced by the view which argues against "outsiders coming in" (p.1). Using this argument, the author justifies his position and shows the importance of speech for the audience.

Also, King compares himself with prophets who "left their villages and carried their "thus saith the Lord" far beyond the boundaries of their home towns so am I compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own home town' (p.1). Historical examples illustrate King's position and persuade listeners in the reliability of the speaker. Pathos is another rhetoric element used by King to appeal to emotions, sympathy, and empathy of listeners. For instance, he describes his daughter's experience as: "tears welling up in her eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children" (p.4). This episode reminds the listener of his/her personal experience, family, friends, or neighbors and transforms a "grief" of King into a universal one.

He appeals to such universal virtues as tolerance and morals. Argumentation and persuasion address to those people, who suffer from racial inequalities and discrimination, like King, and hope that one day he/she will be free from segregation. The audience of King is African Americans who deprived equal rights with whites and suffered from racial oppression and inequalities. Pathos and ethos appeal to the emotions of this audience because he speaks about problems faced by most of them. King expects that his speech helps many people to "awake" from long sleeping and start fighting because the established Constitution grants the right to the populace and no doubt that in modern society the main role is featured to democracy and liberty.