"We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God given rights"

In A Letter from a Birmingham Jail, MLK's objective was to expose the institution of America's oppressive regime that wrongly put him in jail.  When closely analyzing the rhetorical appeals in the text, it is evident that MLK uses pathos frequently to outline his goals for the Civil Rights Movement and to respond to criticism of his non-violent aggression.  He wrote it directly in response to clergymen who called him an "extremist" and a "trouble maker."  King argues that he had every right to fight injustice and oppression in the country that he lived in.  The first instance of pathos used in his letter is in the third paragraph when he says, "...I am in Birmingham because injustice is here."  This accusation is a immediate shift from the first two paragraphs where he is telling the reader the literal events to how he ended up in jail.  Next, we see in paragraph 4 he compares himself to religious leaders from the bible in that his goal was to similarly "carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own home town."  This is an emotional appeal to his audience who should be religious.  In paragraph 4 especially MLK uses more pathos.  “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” “Whatever affects one directly, affects everyone indirectly.” The purpose of these statements are to get the reader to think and really invest in what MLK is saying.  And to show why it is necessary that injustice is dealt with in all states from Atlanta to Birmingham.  King goes on to explain his direct action policies which are a direct use of Non-violent protest.  You may well ask: "Why direct action? Why sit-ins, marches and so forth? Isn't negotiation a better path?" This use of presumptive questioning is an example of an appeal to pathos and the readers emotions of King's actions.  The last two important statements of pathos in his letter is when he says "We have waited more than 340 years for our constitutional and God given rights."  This is supposed to stir up a sense of black nationalism and unity unto its reader.  And lastly in the same paragraph he states “...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 that Funtown is closed to colored children.” This emotional appeal is supposed to make the reader feel apathetic to the little girl and realize how misfortunate she is. MLK proved to be a rhetorical genius through his Letters of a Birmingham Jail