Richard 1

Janelle Richard
ENG 112-78
Instructor Connie Douglas
Daybook Entry #1
30 October 2014
Letter from Birmingham Jail
1. Martin Luther King Jr.s Letter from Birmingham Jail is a Rogerian argument in the
sense that he is addressing eight white Alabama clergymen, his audience and opposition,
in a matter that is non-confrontational and one which seeks common ground. The specific
elements of Rogerian argument King uses are that he is being respectful of opposing
views, non-confrontational, and he uses emphasis that he understands his audience views
the issues differently. I feel this form of argument is most beneficial to Kings overall
purpose, because he is seeking to meet in the middle and find common ground with these
clergymen, which seems to be the substance of a Rogerian argument.
2. Dr. King uses analogies to strengthen his arguments when he discusses direct action, the
white moderate on the basis of law and order, the cure for injustice, and when he shares
his opinion on the clergymens statement about condemning the actions of King and
those who follow him. I think he makes these comparisons to put into better perspective
the points he is trying to get across to his audience.
3. King describes direct action as present[ing] our very bodies as a means of laying our
case before the conscience of the local and the national community. (699) In order to do
this, King says he and those by his side partook in a process of self-purification. (para.

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8) King took part in a number of nonviolence workshops with his supports, and they
constantly had to question themselves on whether or not they were able and willing to
accept blows without retaliating (para. 8) and if they were able to endure the ordeal of
jail. (para. 8) The purpose of direct action, according to King, is to create a situation so
crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation. (para. 11)
4. One example where King uses more emotional language is when he is talking about his
disappointment in the church and how he has cried over the indifference of it. He states in
his letter that his tears have been tears of love, (para. 39) and there can be no deep
disappointment where there is not deep love. (para. 39) He also uses more emotional
language when he is discussing the various trials and tribulations that slaves and Negroes
have gone through, as well as when he refers to the horrible actions that the Birmingham
police had taken against unarmed, nonviolent Negroes. (para. 45) When he uses this
emotional language, I think King is trying to reach the clergymen whom hes addressing
on a deeper, more emotional level. I do feel that this language effectively supports his
argument, because it shows great passion and concern for the matters at hand of which he
is writing about, and he seems to have this same burning passion in his argument overall.
5. The two honest confessions (para. 23) that King makes in his letter are that he has been
disappointed with the white moderate, (para. 23) and he has also been so greatly
disappointed with the white church and its leadership. (para. 33) I believe he classifies
these points as confessions maybe because he had really kept those thoughts to himself
up until that point, and/or because not many people would really be open or brace enough
to share feelings such as those that hes opened up about.