Martin Luther King Jr. and the Art of Argument
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King uses the emotional appeal to attempt to get his readers to feel something and does so quite successfully.
Martin Luther King Day was understandably overshadowed by the tragedy in Haiti. While he is by no means the only note-worthy African American worth featuring during Black History Month, there is far more to the man than his “I have a dream” speech.
As a college critical thinking instructor, I teach one of his lesser known works, “Letter from Birmingham Jail” because it is arguably one of the most well crafted persuasive pieces ever written.
Even in 2010, far too many Americans think that disagreement almost inevitably results in name-calling or even personal attacks. King knew better and eloquently crafted an argument in a jail cell using the three appeals: emotional, logical and ethical to persuade. The best persuaders do just this.
In 1963, King was arrested for participating in a march because no parade permit had been issued by city officials. While in jail, he responded to a letter published in a city newspaper from eight clergymen called “A Call for Unity.” King’s response is extremely well crafted especially considering it was written in the jail cell on scraps of paper smuggled in for him.
When this letter was written, King was not the wildly known and respected civil rights leader we know him to be today. In the views of many, he was just a black man in a jail cell up to no good. But King was extremely well educated. He graduated from Morehouse College, Crozer Theological Seminary and Boston University. His education, passion and control come through eloquently in his letter.
The best arguments use a combination of all three appeals—the emotional, logical and ethical to persuade. King uses all three appeals to persuade his readers. It is nearly impossible to determine how readers make their decisions, so strategic arguers use all three methods.
King uses the emotional appeal to attempt to get his readers to feel something and does so quite successfully especially when he draws upon examples any parent can relate to. He says, “when you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six-year old daughter why she can’t go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told Funtown is closed to colored children, and see ominous clouds of inferiority beginning to form in her little mental sky, and see her beginning to distort her personality by developing an unconscious bitterness toward white people.”
He uses the logical appeal when he provides facts and evidence in his appeal. At times, he even appears to be educating his readers. He says, “in any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self purification; and direct action. We have gone through all these steps in Birmingham. There can be no gainsaying the fact that racial injustice engulfs this community.”
The ethical appeal is also evident throughout his letter as he builds his creditability by using fair-minded language, citing experts and explaining his own expertise. King does this very convincingly when he tries to explain the difference between just and unjust laws. He says, “In no sense do I do I advocate evading or defying the law, as would the rabid segregationist. That would lead to anarchy. One who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty.” King continues, “There is nothing new about this type of kind of civil disobedience.” He cites the early Christians, the Boston Tea Party and even the Hungarian freedom fighters confronting Adolph Hitler’s legal actions in Germany as examples.
We can learn a great deal from King’s argument style. His letter is extremely persuasive because he never resorts to personal attacks or name-calling. In 2010, most people need to understand that true argument is an intellectual exchange of ideas. In this country, we are free to express our views. Critical thinking requires us to participate fully by first listening and then responding. But in order to be heard, we must carefully express our ideas. King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” provides us with a wonderful example.
Janet Hinz is a college instructor and writer who hosts an Internet radio show, Critical Thinking in the Real World. She earned her Master of Arts in Writing from Johns Hopkins University. Janet began her career working for a congressman on Capitol Hill and then moved over to the world of lobbying. It was through these jobs that she learned about the power of grassroots initiatives, media relations and public speaking.
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