Ethical and Logical Appeals in “Letter From Birmingham Jail”
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Background of the Literature: This letter from originally handwritten by Martin Luther King, Jr. after he was arrested during one of
the non-violent protests during the American Civil Rights Unit. King felt the need to respond to eight white religious leaders that had
labeled him as a rebel. Read the excerpts of the letter carefully and analyze how he employed the persuasive appeals.
I. Ethical Appeal
WHILE confined here in the Birmingham city jail, I came across your recent statement calling our present activities "unwise and
untimely." Seldom, if ever, do I pause to answer criticism of my work and ideas. If I sought to answer all of the criticisms that cross
my desk, my secretaries would be engaged in little else in the course of the day, and I would have no time for constructive work. But
since I feel that you are men of genuine good will and your criticisms are sincerely set forth, I would like to answer your statement in
what I hope will be patient and reasonable terms. I think I should give the reason for my being in Birmingham, since you have been
influenced by the argument of "outsiders coming in."
I have the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization operating in every
Southern state, with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. We have some eighty-five affiliate organizations all across the South, one
being the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights. Whenever necessary and possible, we share staff, educational and
financial resources with our affiliates. Several months ago our local affiliate here in Birmingham invited us to be on call to engage in
a nonviolent direct-action program if such were deemed necessary. We readily consented, and when the hour came we lived up to
our promises. So I am here, along with several members of my staff, because we were invited here.
1. Why does MLK explain that he is providing a response to criticism in this case when many times he had not? In
other words, how does he seem to feel about those that critized him?
2. Ethical appeals involves establishing credibility with the reader. Many times individuals can establish credibility by
presenting credentials that they have. What credentials does MLK share with his readers, and why would this help build
his credibility?
3. Which first person pronoun does MLK employ? How many times does he use it in this passage? How does the use
of this pronoun help establish credibility?
II. Logical Appeal
You express a great deal of anxiety over our willingness to break laws. This is certainly a legitimate concern. Sine we do diligently
urge people to obey the Supreme Court’s decision of 1954 outlawing segregation in the public schools, at first glance it may seem
rather paradoxical for us consciously to break laws. One may well ask: “How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying
others” The answer lies in the fact that there are two types of laws: just and unjust. I would be the first to advocate obeying just
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.”
Now what is the difference between the two? How does one determine whether a law is just or unjust? A just law is a man-made
code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law. To put it
in the terms of ST. Thomas Aquinas: An unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law. Any law that
uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust. All segregation statues are unjust because
segregation distorts the soul and the segregated a false sense of inferiority. Hence, segregation is not only politically, economically,
and sociologically unsound, it is morally wrong and sinful.
A concession is an expression of concern for the feelings of those who may disagree with the speaker. A concession shows the
writer to be both a logical thinker and a concerned, fair-minded person that realizes that every argument has two sides.
1. Which sentences in King’s speech make up his concession?
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A concession is one part of another persuasive device called a counterargument. A counter argument consists of the concession
and the refutation (asserting that the opponents arguments are wrong and arguing against them.
2. Which sentences in King’s speech make up his counterargument?
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King uses the process of deductive reasoning in his speech, specially the three part statement called syllogism. (Remember we
did these in Antigone.
3. He develops a syllogism in the second paragraph. Write out the parts. You will have to change King’s wording
somewhat. Here is your general stsatement:
A. Laws that degrade the human personality are unjust.
Now you add the rest of the syllogism.
B. (particular example)
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C. (conclusion) Therefore,
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4. King used a reliance on author when he cites two authorities highly respected by moral and educated people: St.
Thomas and St. Augustine. Identify what each of these moral men stated about unjust/just laws and write it below.
St. Augustine:
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St. Thomas Aquinas:
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5. Explain in a sentence or two why King would use these two men as references. In other words, why were they
appropriate references for his audience?
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