Written in the midst of one of the largest civil rights movements in the United States, the letter by Dr. King is one of the most relevant works throughout the struggle. The purpose of the letter resides in the context of its response to white spiritual leaders in the south. Nonetheless, the understanding of the letter does not only fall under the response of those public statements but rather introduces a change of perspective towards injustice, racial segregation and the position of a religious institution in social issues.
The strategy used in the structure of the letter is as important to the purpose of the speech as the message that resides within. In context, Dr. King was under arrest, together with other leaders and organizers of civil rights movements that had been outlawed for the purpose of limiting the movement (Wilson, 2007). Therein, the letter not only serves as a response to the speech written by fellow white clergymen but also a justification for his cause, as well as an inspirational tool to the black population in the state and the country.
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Throughout the letter, King employs Righteous and Measured strategy as the cornerstone of the message. The effectiveness of the strategy is underscored by the value of circumstances as well as the intended audience of the letter. In context, the letter is specific as it directly responds to the questions raised by the white clergymen. Therein, the strategy is specific in demonstration of purpose as well as justification of his actions within the context of the church, the Christian faith as well as the society. King expresses himself in the letter, every point of discourse made within is reflected within the concept of his Christian faith and the responsibility of all individuals in the society to uphold equality and speak out against injustice (Fulkerson, 1979). Therein, he employs in every major point supportive evidence of religious and spiritual understanding as well as the morality of actions. The righteous strategy is categorical as it directly addresses the clergy in the context of the religious duties as well as their scholarly understanding of issues.
In the capacity that King was able to capture the righteousness in the words of every sentence in the letter is demonstrated in the choice of words and evidence. He quotes scholars such as Thomas Aquinas one of the most significant Christian theologians in justification of unjust laws. In context, he underscores that while the laws are made to maintain order in the society, the presence of unjust law fosters inequality and against the eternal and natural law. Dr. King incorporates the Christian doctrine, morality, as well as the spirit of human rights under natural law, implicate a measured strategy. For instance, given the circumstances, King is under arrest in what he refers to unjust imprisonment, yet the choice of words that he employs in the letter is well calculated. The tone of the letter is not vitriolic, nor does he respond in a hateful language in anger.
Implicated in the letter is however farm and harsh words that demonstrate the weight of issues of racism, segregation, and social inequality against the black population. He creates a balance between responding respectively to the clergy in a language they would understand as well as strengthen his moral standing in the actions he takes. For instance, he writes,
“ If I have said anything in this letter that overstates the truth and indicates an unreasonable impatience, I beg you to forgive me. …… I beg God to forgive me” . (King Jr, 1964).
In context, this statement offers the absolution, clarity of purpose, and sobriety that he demonstrates while writing the letter. While the statement acts as a conclusion to his letter, it denotes the diplomatic capacity and patience that ought to underscore the movement he advocates for. Measured righteousness in this context is explicit as the wording, as well as the structure of the letter, holds the strength and moral high ground in the discourse. Fighting for civil rights of the oppressed and segregated black population while maintaining tact, clear vision of purpose.
The righteous and measured strategy is employed effectively in the letter due to the intended audience as well as the circumstances of purpose. While addressing the clergymen, the strategy expresses common ground through the Christian doctrine and the church. It challenges the perspective of the church and the moderate white population in the face of unjust laws and inequality in society. For example, he writes,
"Actually, we who engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive. We bring it out in the open, where it can be seen and dealt with”. (King, and Vivian, 2013).
Consequently, the strategy unearths the perspective of the society s as well as constitutionalism to provide evidence of the message in the letter. The circumstances of the organization of a non-violent direct action stipulate how the righteous strategy in the letter is effective. Further, the use of measured language also demonstrates the clarity of purpose to non-violent action as he is categorical in the choice of words.
References
Wilson, B. E. (2007). Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Letter from a Birmingham Jail: An Analysis of Rhetorical Timing and Situation (Doctoral dissertation, California Polytechnic State University).
King, M. L., & Vivian, C. T. (2013). Letter from Birmingham jail. Arguing about law , 254-264.
Fulkerson, R. P. (1979). The public letter as a rhetorical form: Structure, logic, and style in king's “letter from Birmingham jail.” Quarterly Journal of Speech, 65(2), 121-136.
King Jr, M. L. (1964). Letter from Birmingham Jail. Liberating faith: Religious voices for justice, peace, & ecological wisdom, 177-187.
