Letter From Birmingham Jail

What portions of the letter speak to people other than (or in addition to) the clergymen to whom it is addressed? Though what elements does King appeal to the letter’s potential nonclerical audience?

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In the letter, other people besides the clergymen are addressed. First, the letter is addressed to the white moderate who King almost declares as worse than the Kul Klax Clan leaders as they regrettably prefer 'negative peace rather than 'positive peace'. This implies that they were comfortable with racial segregation as long as order prevailed. Besides, they disapproved of direct action against discrimination and it was morally wrong to have a timetable of when other people could get freedom from discrimination. King also addresses the church expressing his disappointment of their opposition to the struggle for freedom. Besides, the Church claimed the racial and economic injustices committed were social orders, thus hypocrisy. Three elements are predominant in the letter, logos, ethos, and pathos. King distinguishes between just and unjust laws. He applies logos in showing the difference between positive and negative peace. Although the white moderates preferred negative peace, which is letting discrimination as long as there was order. King applied logos in expressing that it was unrealistic. Secondly, King applies pathos in capturing the emotions of non-clerics by citing the atrocities committed against the Blacks such as unjust treatment in courts, the bombing of Negro homes, and racial injustice. Lastly, he applies ethos in explaining the need to apply values in distinguishing between just and unjust laws.

Source(s)

Luther, M. (2017). Letter from a Birmingham Jail (King, Jr). Retrieved, 8th September 2021, from https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html