Question

Read the excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." Answer the question that follows.

Just as Socrates felt that it was necessary to create a tension in the mind so that individuals could rise from the bondage of myths and half-truths to the unfettered realm of creative analysis and objective appraisal, so must we see the need for nonviolent gadflies to create the kind of tension in society that will help men rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood.

Here, King contrasts two ideas for emphasis. Which rhetorical device is he using?

a. Antithesis
b. Irony
c. Rhetorical question
d. Synecdoche

Answer 1

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's 'Letter from a Birmingham Jail' defends the use of nonviolent demonstrations against criticism from White clergymen advocating for a more gradual approach to civil rights. The tactics of boycotts, marches, and sit-ins were emphasized, and King's letter was pivotal in advancing civil rights.

option 'b' is the correct

Step-by-step explanation:

In Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," the civil rights tactics that raised objections from the White clergymen were primarily centered around nonviolent demonstrations and direct action. These forms of protest included boycotts, marches, and sit-ins aimed at desegregating public venues and ending discriminatory employment practices.

The White clergymen whom King addressed in his letter were advocating for a more gradual approach to social change, expressing concerns that the civil rights movement's direct action tactics were untimely and incendiary.

The SCLC's efforts, led by King, contributed significantly to exposing the severity of racial injustice in Birmingham, prompting a national and international outcry when peaceful protesters were met with violent resistance from the police.

King's letter served as a powerful defense for the immediacy and necessity of direct action in the fight for civil rights, contrasting the clergymen's call for patience. It outlined the urgency of the situation and the moral obligation to act against unjust laws, contributing significantly to the social and political advancements of the civil rights movement.