Question

how does "Letter from a Birmingham Jail [King, Jr.]" appeal to the beliefs+values his readers are likely to have?

WHAT ARE THESE BELIEFS+VALUES?

HOW DO YOU KNOW?

Answer 1

King’ letter is a combination of values and hope which he believed would make an impact not only among the African Americans but also among the White people who believe in equality. The values King brings out are non-violence, tolerance, love, truthfulness and goodness. He calls for more obedience to the laws but if the laws are unjust, then he urges people to fight against them with the hope of changing them. He shows Birmingham jail itself as a place of injustice. He was not happy that the African Americans just gave up under the domination but King suggests that things would change only when they come together and fight the unjust laws. Thus, he calls people to hold on to their hope of making things better.

Thank you for your question. Please rate if you like the answer.

Answer 2

In "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. appeals to the beliefs and values of his readers in several ways:

1. Appeal to Christian values: Dr. King, being a Baptist minister, appeals to the Christian values of his readers, many of whom are also likely to be Christians. He cites religious figures like the Apostle Paul and Jesus Christ, and draws on the Christian principles of love, justice, and equality.

2. Appeal to American values: Dr. King also appeals to the American values of freedom, democracy, and equality, which are foundational to American society. He argues that segregation and discrimination are contrary to these values, and that the fight for civil rights is a struggle to uphold them.

3. Appeal to humanistic values: Dr. King appeals to the universal humanistic values of justice, equality, and human dignity. He argues that the struggle for civil rights is not just a fight for African Americans, but for all people who value these principles.

We know that these are the beliefs and values of his readers because Dr. King wrote the letter in response to a statement by eight white clergymen who criticized his methods of civil disobedience and urged him to wait for the courts to deliver justice. The clergymen likely represented a mainstream, moderate perspective at the time, and Dr. King's response was aimed at convincing them and their supporters of the righteousness of the civil rights movement. By appealing to these shared beliefs and values, Dr. King sought to build a broad coalition in support of the movement and to convince his readers of the urgency of the cause.