Week 7 Blog: MLK Arguments
Outline an argument that you see in the MLK letter, filling in these points according to the Toulmin model of argumentation, discussed in Ch. 3 of your textbook:
Claim (I have a right to be in Birmingham.)
Reason
Evidence
Warrant
Backing
In addition, plot the rhetorical situation of the Letter from Birmingham Jail.
Author/Argument/Audience?
Tone? Medium? Genre?
How is the argument arranged/organized?
Claim (I have a right to be in Birmingham.)
Reason
Evidence
Warrant
Backing
In addition, plot the rhetorical situation of the Letter from Birmingham Jail.
Author/Argument/Audience?
Tone? Medium? Genre?
How is the argument arranged/organized?
Claim: There is injustice in Birmingham
ReplyDeleteReason: There is degradation of humanity and there are rules against a specific minority that is unwarranted. Because of that, he has a duty to spread the Gospel of freedom.
Warrant: Injustice is bad; humanity should pursue morality and the law of God
Evidence: There is segregation in Birmingham.
Backing: “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. ” - MLK Jr. Jesus was an “extremist in love”. Jesus calls us to love one another.
Rhetorical argument
Author: Martin Luther King Jr.
Argument: Birmingham is a stronghold of injustice, and he carries the God-given right to spread the gospel of freedom.
Audience: 8 white religious leaders of the south
Tone: Serious; passionate
Medium: letter from jail
Genre: political, racism
Organization/arrangement: He starts his letter by saying he wanted to respond to a statement. He stated his reasons for being there, incorporated biblical evidence, and addressed their questions. He addressed why he was in Birmingham, the nonviolence of their campaigns, the reason for direct action, etc.. He continues to explain his concerns in the white moderate and backs up his claims. By the end, he is inciting action and change. He concludes by apologizing if he had offended anyone, and asked that any ungodly words would be forgiven. Throughout the letter, he uses the Bible and God as his primary point of reference. He is assuming that his audience highly regards the Bible, and therefore emphasizes it.
Claim: I have a right to be in Birmingham.
ReplyDeleteReason: He says "I am in Birmingham because injustice is here."
Evidence: MLK says that "Birmingham is probably the most thoroughly segregated city
in the United States" and that they have a police brutality record against black people.
Warrant: Injustice is something that needs to be fixed and it is not right and as the President of the SCLC it is his job to help fix that injustice.
Backing: He says "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
Author: Matin Luther King Jr.
Argument: It was intended to convince the religious leaders that he was allowed to be in Birmingham because injustice was there and as the leader of the SCLC, it was his job to help fix that injustice. There were other arguments throughout the letter in response to the religious leaders claims, but him saying he had a right to be in Birmingham was the main one.
Audience: 8 white religious leaders in the south. It also ended up being posted in the newspaper so it reached a larger audience than intended.
Tone: Very serious/formal
Genre: Letter/print source, ended up in the newspaper
Design/content: MLK took the religious leaders comments about him and responded to each one individually. He went in depth on each one and gave supporting evidence to refute their remarks.
Claim: MLK Jr. has a right to be in Birmingham
ReplyDelete1. Reason: He was invited.
Evidence: The Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights invited him.
Warrant: Invitation warrants showing up.
Backing: Definition of invitation
2. Reason: Injustice is in Birmingham
Evidence: "record of police brutality," legal segregation, "unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches"
Warrant: injustice definition, "I too am compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my particular hometown."
Backing: Paul and other Apostles
3. Reason: "I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham."
Evidence: "interrelatedness of all communities and states"
Warrant: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"
Backing: "Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly."
Rhetorical Situation
Author: MLK Jr.
Argument: I have a right to be in Birmingham fighting injustice.
Audience: It was intended as a response to the eight white religious leaders of the South, but since it was published in a newspaper, it reached a large audience throughout the South.
Tone: serious, formal, explanatory
Medium: letter
Genre: print
Arrangement: Each new topic in his letter is emphasized with capital letters making it seem more organized. He goes through a logical explanation of why he is in Birmingham, why his actions of nonviolent campaigning was justified, and he addresses each comment from the eight religious leaders thoroughly.
-Claim: MLK has a right to be in Birmingham
ReplyDelete-Reason: There is injustice there. “I am in Birmingham because injustice is here.”
-Evidence: “Birmingham is probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States. Its ugly record of police brutality is known in every section of this country. Its unjust treatment of Negroes in the courts is a notorious reality. There have been more unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches in Birmingham than in any other city in this nation.”
-Warrant: He feels obligated to come to Birmingham to fight the injustice due to his position in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
-Backing: He is the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which supports and defends Human Rights of all races. "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.
-Author: MLK Jr.
-Audience: (Intended) The eight white religious leaders who issued a state of concern relating to MLK and his mission. (Unintended) Readers of the newspaper in which this letter was published.
-Argument: There is injustice in Birmingham due to legal segregation, and it needs to be addressed.
-Tone: serious, polite, respectful, persuasive
-Medium: print
-Genre: letter
The argument has a very respectful tone throughout the letter, because MLK realizes that this well be more effective and appeal to his ethos. He provides lots of statistics and specific instances of this injustice to appeal to logos. And provides examples of sad stories to appeal to pathos. He addresses each of their concerns and explains each of his claims with multiple specific examples.
Claim: I have a right to be in Birmingham
ReplyDeleteReason: “I am in Birmingham because injustice is here” The injustice he is speaking about involves the racial segregation that is occurring during this time period. He was also in Birmingham because he was invited, and has “…basic organizational ties…”
Evidence: “Birmingham is probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States.” The city has a record of police brutality as well as treating African American citizens unjustly. There are also “humiliating racial sings” that hang in store fronts across the city.
Warrant: Injustice is immoral and everything in one’s power should be done in order to reverse the laws set in place. Martin Luther King Jr. holds a position of power in the African American community, and states that “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” He also believes that God allows him to be there, and fight for his constitutional rights.
Backing: “An unjust law is a code that a majority inflicts on a minority that is not binding on itself. This difference is made legal.” The segregation that occurs in Birmingham is brought up due to the feelings of the majority, but affects the morale of those affected. He also believes that “it is immoral to urge an individual to withdraw his efforts to gain his basic constitutional rights…”
Author: Martin Luther King Jr.
Argument: He had a right to be there due to the racial segregation that African Americans were experiencing.
Audience: The intended audience was eight white religious leaders of the South, but the unintended audience was those who read the paper this letter was published in.
Tone: Formal with a slight sense of urgency
Medium: Print
Genre: Letter, could arguably be a newspaper article since it was later published.
Organization: Each transition starts with a new paragraph and each main topic starts with a large capital letter. This allows the reader to follow his flow of thoughts, as well as identify how each prior point builds on the next.
Claim: I have a right to be in Birmingham.
ReplyDeleteReason: "I am in Birmingham because injustice is here."
Evidence: "Birmingham is probably the most thoroughly segregated city
in the United States. Its ugly record of police brutality is known in every section of this country. Its unjust treatment of Negroes in the courts is a notorious reality. There have been more unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches in Birmingham than in any other city in this nation. These are the hard, brutal, and unbelievable facts. On the basis of them, Negro leaders sought to negotiate with the city fathers. But the political leaders consistently refused to engage in good-faith negotiation."
Warrant: Injustice is something that needs to be fixed and as the leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, it is Martin Luther King Jr. job to try and fix it.
Backing: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
Rhetorical Situation
Author: Martin Luther King Jr
Audience: 8 white religious leaders of the south
Argument: MLK Jr has a right to be in Birmingham
Tone: Serious and formal. Explanatory for why he has the right to be in Birmingham
Medium: Originally hand written by MLK Jr and originally published in a newspaper, however it was viewed on an electronic source for this reading
Genre: Letter, Argument, Explanation
This argument is organized by introducing himself and explaining who he is, then explaining why he is in Birmingham, and continuing to explain why he has the right to be there. The letter is split into many small paragraphs which makes it easy to read and also separates the ideas effectively.
Claim: I have the right to be in Birmingham
ReplyDeleteReason: He was invited to come by a local affiliate of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
Evidence: He was to engage in a nonviolent direct-action program with the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights.
Warrant: An invitation means you are being welcomed into a place.
Backing: “So I am here, along with several members of my staff, because we were invited here.”
Reason: Injustice is in Birmingham
Evidence: Segregation and police brutality in Birmingham.
Warrant: people don’t want to be treated unjust
Backing: “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”
Reason: he is “compelled to carry the gospel of freedom” to areas of need
Evidence: He draws a comparison between this duty of his to the Apostle Paul, who shared the gospel of Jesus Christ to people all over.
Warrant: Because the people King is specifically addressing are religious leaders, he is able to conclude that they believe in Jesus and would understand the parallel to the Apostle Paul and that it is King’s right and duty to try and spread freedom, just as Paul did in spreading the gospel.
Backing: “Just as the eighth century prophets left their little villages and carried their "thus saith the Lord" far beyond the boundaries of their hometowns; and just as the Apostle Paul left his little village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to practically every hamlet and city of the Greco-Roman world, I too am compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my particular hometown.”
Author: Martin Luther King, Jr.
Audience: Eight white religious leaders of the south
Argument: Defend his reason for being in Birmingham, as a response to a public statement made by eight white religious leaders stating their concern for King’s “unwise and untimely” activities.
Tone: formal/serious
Medium: Print
Genre: Letter
Arrangement: The argument is arranged by addressing the critics’ comments and then rebutting them. He gives reasons and evidence for all of his arguments he makes. He also has many paragraphs, with each paragraph focusing on a new argument or piece of evidence.
Claim: I have a right to be in Birmingham.
ReplyDeleteReason: There is injustice in Birmingham.
Evidence:
- “Birmingham is probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United
States. Its ugly record of police brutality is known in every section of this country.”
- “An unjust law is no law at all… An unjust law is a code that a majority inflicts on a minority
that is not binding on itself.”
Warrant: It is my responsibility to resist injustice.
Backing: “Just as the Apostle Paul left his little village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus
Christ to practically every hamlet and city of the Greco-Roman world, I too am compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my particular hometown.”
Author: Martin Luther King Jr.
Argument: There is injustice in Birmingham, and as a Christian and the president of the SCLC, it
is my responsibility to defend against injustice, because “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Audience: eight white religious leaders of the south (intended)
Tone: formal
Medium: letter
Genre: letter to the editor/advocacy letter
Organization: King starts by addressing his critics and making it known that he sees their good
intentions. He then methodically and thoroughly addresses each concern. He separates these ideas into paragraphs in order to help the logical flow of ideas and to emphasize each one individually. Within each paragraph, he refutes each concern with many specific examples that appeal especially to pathos and logos. He uses Biblical references to support his claims.
Claim: I have a right to be in Birmingham.
ReplyDeleteReason: There is injustice there.
Evidence: It’s stated that “Birmingham is probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States. Its ugly record of police brutality is known in every section of this country."
Warrant: Injustice needs to be addressed and fixed and as the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference he has authority.
Backing: He states that “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Author: Martin Luther King Jr.
Argument: That he has a right to be in Birmingham and that the continuous injustice needs to stop.
Audience: The eight white religious leaders of the South, but it also had an impact on those that read the paper in which this was published.
Tone: Serious, formal, informative
Medium: Print
Genre: Letter
Organization: It is organized by him first introducing who he is and why his presence in Birmingham is justified. He breaks his ideas up well and supports his arguments with evidence.
Claim: “I have a right to be in Birmingham”
ReplyDeleteReason 1: The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which MLK is president of, is affiliated with the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights. The ALCMHR invited MLK to Birmingham.
Evidence: Show evidence of invitation from the ALCMHR.
Warrant: An invitation usually means that one should be where to which they have been invited.
Backing: Definition of the social construct of invitations.
Reason 2: There is injustice in Birmingham.
Evidence: Reports of police brutality and that “Birmingham is probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States”.
Warrant: Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
Backing: “We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.”
Reason 3: With injustice here, a person like myself coming to help is what has always been done.
Evidence: He references to the Apostle Paul and the Bible as a whole.
Warrant: As Dr. King is a minister (what he had his doctorate in actually), the lessons within the Bible are within his core beliefs. Therefore, he must act like the people who his core values are based off.
Backing: “Like Paul, I must constantly respond to the Macedonian call for aid.” He is saying what he is doing is in line with what has always been done, tracing his actions’ lineage back hundreds of years.
Author: Dr. Martin Luther King
Argument: He is arguing for his actions in Birmingham that had been criticized an previously open letter that was written by eight prominent religious leaders in the South.
Audience: The letter is pointed jointly at the eight religious leaders as well, since it is an open letter, to the public as a whole.
Tone: MLK’s tone is fiery but calculated. He develops his argument by pointing out the fundamental issue of the argument against his work in Birmingham, that these religious leaders have now just accepted evil and injustice to bed down with them in the society that they live in.
Medium: This was a letter written first, but was published in newspapers. Now it is in digital form for us now to read.
Genre: Political commentary
The argument is arranged by MLK immediately addressing the letter that was aimed at him. He counters by claiming his right to be there and backing up with the three reasons given above. Dr. King throughout these claims undermines the eight white religious leaders’ “holier than thou” position by citing the Bible and general morals to show that his actions were more in line with God than the critical leaders. This is furthered after he moves on to describing the process and plan that he set out to rectify the situation. By doing this, he builds tremendous trust and character with the audience by reducing the opposition’s argument by description of his actions and beliefs rather than the defamation their position.
Claim: I have a right to be in Birmingham
ReplyDeleteReason: "I am in Birmingham because there is injustice here". This is the continued racial segregation of the city after it was deemed against the law. He is also in Birmingham because he was invited and has ties to the city.
Evidence: Dr. King writes, "Birmingham is probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States." Even after racial segregation was deemed illegal, it was still highly prevalent in Birmingham.
Warrant: Racial segregation is immoral and needs to be combatted right away. Martin Luther King Jr. stated that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." As the leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, it is Martin Luther King Jr.'s job to fix the problem of injustice.
Backing: Injustice is created by those in power, but effects minorities. Injustice in this case was created by white law makers and the white population at large, but effected black people.
Rhetorical Situation
Author: Martin Luther King Jr.
Audience: 8 white religious leaders of the south
Argument: It is his right to be in Birmingham
Tone: very serious, formal, and frustrated
medium: print
Genre: letter to the editor
This argument is organized by MLK first telling who he is and then explaining why he has the right to be in Birmingham. MLK describes why he is doing what he is doing and why he will not wait until "the time is right" to start protesting. The letter has great organization, using many paragraphs to form many different thoughts and push his argument.
Claim: I have a right to be in Birmingham.
ReplyDeleteReason: There is injustice in Birmingham.
Evidence: “Birmingham is probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States. Its ugly record of police brutality is known in every section of this country. Its unjust treatment of Negroes in the courts is a notorious reality. There have been more unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches in Birmingham than in any other city in this nation”
Warrant: “I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Backing: “As president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference… share staff, educational and financial resources with our affiliates… invited by affiliate in Birmingham... we were invited here… I have basic organizational ties here.”
Author: MLK Jr.
Argument: He has a right to be in Birmingham.
Audience: The eight clergymen were the intended audience, but found a large audience in the public through publication in the newspaper.
Tone: Serious and formal yet polite and persuasive.
Medium: Paper/Print
Genre: Letter
Organization/Arrangement: Dr. King states his claim outright and provides evidence to support his claim through the use of ethos and his credibility and pathos through the Biblical references that any religious person who reads his letter will understand.
• Claim: I have a right to be in Birmingham.
ReplyDelete• Reason: “I am in Birmingham because injustice is here.”
• Evidence: “Birmingham is probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United
States. Its ugly record of police brutality is known in every section of this country. Its
unjust treatment of Negroes in the courts is a notorious reality. There have been more unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches in Birmingham than in any other city in this nation.”
• Warrant: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
• Backing: “Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly”
• Author: Martin Luther King Jr.
• Argument: Birmingham is a place full of injustice, and I have the right to try and stop it.
• Audience: Audience was originally 8 white religious leaders. The actual audience is now us, and whoever reads the letter.
• Tone: The tone in this piece is serious and formal
• Medium: The original medium was a letter, then it was published in a newspaper, and now it is perceived through digital image.
• Genre: Letter, Explanatory/Argumentative.
• This argument is organized in logical order. Martin Luther King Jr. states who he is, then he says why he is in Birmingham. He then proceeds to show evidence as to why he is there, and then address the people who the letter was intended for.
Claim: I have a right to be in Birmingham.
ReplyDeleteReason: There is injustice in Birmingham.
Evidence: "But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim; when you have seen hate-filled policemen curse, kick, brutalize, and even kill your black brothers and sisters with impunity..."
Warrant: having racial segregation does not thrive in community. Dr. King states "whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly." Whether it be the white or black groups everyone is affected.
Backing: Dr. King gives many examples that appeal to pathos including one that states "'Daddy, why do white people treat colored people so mean?'", a quote from a young girl who does not understand the segregation.
Author: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Argument: the reasoning why he was in Birmingham and why he has the right
Audience: the eight white religious leaders of the South
Tone: formal, serious, informative
Medium: paper and now print
Genre: letter
Argument arrangement: it is organized in a way to explain his reasoning for being where he was and why he is standing up for what he believes in and what is right.
Claim: I have a right to be in Birmingham
ReplyDeleteReason: “I am in Birmingham because injustice is here”
Evidence: “Birmingham is probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States.”
Warrant: Martin Luther King Jr. states in this letter that “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” this gives him a warrant to be in Birmingham, believing that there is injustice and injustice is wrong in every reason available. he believes his presence in Birmingham will allow him to help rectify the injustice committed.
Backing: “An unjust law is a code that a majority inflicts on a minority that is not binding on itself. This difference is made legal.”
Author: Martin Luther King Jr.
Argument: He had a right to be there due to the racial segregation and injustice that African Americans were experiencing.
Audience: The intended audience is eight white religious leaders of the South, but the unintended audience are those who read the paper this letter was published in.
Tone: Formal
Medium: Print/newspaper
Genre: Letter, although could also be a newspaper article since it was later published.
Arrangement: his thoughts are formed in paragraphs that support the logical order of his arguments and ideas.
Claim: I have a right to be in Birmingham
ReplyDeleteReason: MLK Jr. says that he is “in Birmingham because injustice is here”.
Evidence: He states that “Birmingham is probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States. Its ugly record of police brutality is known in every section of this country…”
Warrant: “...just as the Apostle Paul left his little village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to practically every hamlet and city of the Greco-Roman world, I too am compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my particular hometown. Like Paul, I must constantly respond to the Macedonian call for aid”
Backing: “Injustice is a threat to justice everywhere”
Author: Martin Luther King Jr.
Argument: That he has a right to be in Birmingham due to racism.
Audience- Intended: The eight white religious leaders of the South.
Audience- Actual: Since this was published in newspapers, many people during this time period had access to reading it. Today, people who are interested in history, MLK Jr., and nonviolent protests can also come across this letter.
Tone: formal and serious
Medium: the original is print, but since iit can be found online it can be digital too.
Genre: Letter
Organization: MLK Jr.’s argument is organized by addressing each of the eight religious leaders comments. He address each one in a logical order while providing reasoning, and examples. He clearly addresses each new topic by enlarging the first letter of the word in that section.
Claim: I have a right to be in Birmingham
ReplyDeleteReason: MLK states that because he is the president of the Southern Christian Leadership conference.
Evidence: He received a letter fro their local affiliate inviting them to be "on call to engage in a nonviolent direct-action program"
Backing: MLK stated that he has " basic organizational ties" in Birmingham.
Author: MLK
Argument: He has a right to be in Birmingham
Intended Audience: The people of Birmingham that have a problem with him being there as well as the basic American public.
Tone: Formal, critical
Medium: Given as a speech, published in print then also in a digital format
Genre: Letter
Organization: Forms his argument through multiple paragraphs to address different problems throughout his argument.