Final answer:
Martin Luther King Jr. explicitly conveys his opinion in 'Letter from Birmingham Jail' by criticising the white clergy’s calls for a gradual approach to civil rights and instead advocating for immediate action. Implicitly, he underscores his arguments with moral urgency and the philosophy of nonviolent civil disobedience. King calls for solidarity and direct action to address racial injustices.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Letter from Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King Jr. uses both explicit and implicit methods to convey his opinion on the civil rights movement and the urgency of action against racial injustice. Explicitly, King is direct and clear in his criticism of the white clergy and others who suggest a gradual approach to civil rights, instead advocating for immediate action and describing the pain and frustrations of the African American community. Implicitly, his tone, word choice, and the moral authority he commands by referencing religious and philosophical traditions work to underline his message of unity, justice, and the necessity for direct action.
The view King expresses is one of profound disappointment with the pace of civil rights progress and an impatience for the "wait and see" attitude suggested by his critics. By contrasting the clergy's calls for patience with the dire social injustices faced by African Americans, King makes a compelling argument for why immediate change is essential. He provides a moral rationale for direct action and civil disobedience, grounding his arguments in the broader framework of social justice and morality.
King utilizes the ethos of nonviolent civil disobedience, endorsed by figures like Gandhi, to underscore his points. He highlights the inaction of white religious leaders, whom he wishes would advocate for integration not just because it is the law but because it is morally right. The implicit message is a call for solidarity among the clergy and a condemnation of the church's passive stance on social justice issues.