https://padlet.com/21dvoreri/939o3jmiw0nfvg9m The rhetorical analysis of letters exchanged between Clergymen and Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Era. en-us 2020-04-24 16:01:56 UTC 2026-03-20 04:58:10 UTC hello@padlet.com 21dvoreri https://padlet.com/21dvoreri/939o3jmiw0nfvg9m/wish/528765149 In the midst of Civil Rights protests, a group of clergymen from Alabama right Martin Luther King Jr an open letter. It starts by them acknowledging the fact that there is racial friction and unrest. They urge him, a leader of civil rights movements, to stop the peaceful protests and riots. The clergymen recommend to meet in a neutral space to diplomatically end all of this rioting. The article ends by them signing all of their names. ]]> 2020-04-24 16:07:09 UTC https://padlet.com/21dvoreri/939o3jmiw0nfvg9m/wish/528765149 21dvoreri https://padlet.com/21dvoreri/939o3jmiw0nfvg9m/wish/528801404 Speaker- A group of Clergymen in Birmingham, which was the center of all of the Civil Rights movements.
Occasion- The Civil Rights protests have been getting out of hand and causing too much unwanted attention.
Audience- This was an open note letter published in the newspaper for Martin Luther King Jr. to read it because he was in jail.
Purpose- The authors want the riots to end due to all of the violence and unwanted attention from media.
Subject- Clergymen are trying to peacefully end these riots by getting MLK Jr to meet in a neutral space to peacefully negotiate an end of the riots. ]]> 2020-04-24 16:21:34 UTC https://padlet.com/21dvoreri/939o3jmiw0nfvg9m/wish/528801404 21dvoreri https://padlet.com/21dvoreri/939o3jmiw0nfvg9m/wish/528822620 Sincere- "We expressed understanding that honest convictions in racial matters could properly be pursued in the courts, but urged that decisions of those courts should in the meantime be peacefully obeyed".
Stern- "But we are convinced that these demonstrations are unwise and untimely."]]> 2020-04-24 16:30:30 UTC https://padlet.com/21dvoreri/939o3jmiw0nfvg9m/wish/528822620 21dvoreri https://padlet.com/21dvoreri/939o3jmiw0nfvg9m/wish/528979093 Ethos- The clergymen are speaking on behalf of all of Alabama when they send out the letter showing authority.
Pathos- The clergymen tried to support the protestors by agreeing with why they would protest.
Logos- They believe to meet in a neutral, safe space so there are no "racial conflicts" to discuss the matters. ]]> 2020-04-24 17:38:25 UTC https://padlet.com/21dvoreri/939o3jmiw0nfvg9m/wish/528979093 21dvoreri https://padlet.com/21dvoreri/939o3jmiw0nfvg9m/wish/529009427 Pronouns- They use pronouns like "we" and "us" to show unification because they are in all of it together: "We commend the community as a whole, and the local news media and law enforcement in particular, on the calm manner in which these demonstrations have been handled".
Allusion- The clergymen brought up "An Appeal for Law and Order and Common Sense" to show that they understand the racial problems: "We the undersigned clergymen are among those who, in January, issued 'An Appeal for Law and Order and Common Sense,' in dealing with racial problems in Alabama".
Parallelism- In the two paragraphs, 4 of the 5 sentences start with "We" which really which adds some repetition and flow while really making the point clear that as a group, they want to stop the riots and meet together to peacefully end them: "We further strongly urge our own Negro community to withdraw support from these demonstrations, and to unite locally in working peacefully for a better Birmingham".

]]> 2020-04-24 17:52:54 UTC https://padlet.com/21dvoreri/939o3jmiw0nfvg9m/wish/529009427 21dvoreri https://padlet.com/21dvoreri/939o3jmiw0nfvg9m/wish/529066402 As Martin Luther King Jr. is in jain, he sees the open letter the Clergymen wrote to him from a newspaper. He then reads it and carefully starts to write a response back to them. He keeps a calm and collective yet argumentative stance in why protests are the only effective measure. He uses demographic and historical argumentative claims to back up his evidence. He ends the letter by professionally declining the "invitation" of meeting the Clergymen by saying if he were to meet with them, it would as Christian men. ]]> 2020-04-24 18:21:30 UTC https://padlet.com/21dvoreri/939o3jmiw0nfvg9m/wish/529066402 21dvoreri https://padlet.com/21dvoreri/939o3jmiw0nfvg9m/wish/530488773 Speaker- Martin Luther King Jr. is the most notorious civl rights speaker and activist. We even have a holiday based off of him and his work.
Occasion- Luther King is in jail for his protesting in Birmingham.
Audience- This is intended for the Clergymen of Alabama who wrote to him first.
Purpose- He wants to respond to the Clergymen and explaining why he believes in these protests.
Subject- Luther King is explaining to the Clergymen why he believes the protests are the only effective measures to be taken for the Civil Rights Movements.]]> 2020-04-25 22:32:16 UTC https://padlet.com/21dvoreri/939o3jmiw0nfvg9m/wish/530488773 21dvoreri https://padlet.com/21dvoreri/939o3jmiw0nfvg9m/wish/530495197 Argumentative- "We will reach the goal of freedom in Birmingham and all over seasons for action; the nation, because the goal of America is freedom".
Courteous- "I hope this letter finds you strong in the faith. I also hope that circumstances will soon make it possible for me to meet each of you, not as an integrationist or a civil rights leader, but as a fellow clergyman and a Christian brother".]]> 2020-04-25 22:44:34 UTC https://padlet.com/21dvoreri/939o3jmiw0nfvg9m/wish/530495197 21dvoreri https://padlet.com/21dvoreri/939o3jmiw0nfvg9m/wish/530501309 Ethos- Martin mentions how he respects and acknowledges the Clergymen's argument, while he politely and professionally disagrees showing his good character. 
Pathos- In the ending paragraph, Martin mentions how he "wishes" to meet with the Clergymen as Christian brothers rather than discussing the racial issues.
Lagos- The reference of the early settlers and white policemen beating unarmed black protestors give a logical reason behind his argument. ]]> 2020-04-25 22:55:56 UTC https://padlet.com/21dvoreri/939o3jmiw0nfvg9m/wish/530501309 21dvoreri https://padlet.com/21dvoreri/939o3jmiw0nfvg9m/wish/530511570 Allusion- "Before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth we were here. Before the pen of Jefferson etched across the pages of history the majestic words of the Declaration of Independence, we were here. For more than two centuries our fore-parents labored in this country without wages; they made cotton king; and they built the homes of their masters in the midst of brutal injustice and shameful humiliation—and yet out of a bottomless vitality-they continued to thrive and develop".
Parallelism- "I don't believe you would so quickly commend the policemen if you would observe their ugly and inhuman treatment of Negroes here in the city jail; if you would watch them push and curse old Negro women and young Negro; if you would see them slap and kick old Negro men and young Negro boys; if you will observe them, as they did on two occasions, refuse to give us food because we wanted to sing our grace together".
Pronouns (exclude)- "It is true that they have been rather disciplined in their public handling of the demonstrators".]]> 2020-04-25 23:17:36 UTC https://padlet.com/21dvoreri/939o3jmiw0nfvg9m/wish/530511570