Broadcaster Edward R. Murrow once said, “To be persuasive, we must be credible; to be credible, we must be credible; credible, we must be honest. These words apply to any form of communication, but are considerably powerful when considering written approvals. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail" was written as a peaceful rhetorical rebuttal intended to please the eight clergy authors; who expressed their disapproval of Dr. King's actions and their timing. Reading Martin Luther King Jr.'s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” the reader is convinced by the diversity of his writing style; which integrates ethical, logical and emotional appeals. By using ethical arguments, Dr. King was able to address legality, spirituality, and morality. This is particularly important as the intended readers of the documents were clergy of the Christian and Jewish faith. Speaking about the law of the land that was currently being violated, Dr. King said, “we so diligently urge people to obey the 1954 Supreme Court decision banning segregation in public schools” (64). Dr. King urged people to defend constitutional rights that were being openly violated. He moves forward in his letter by referencing the teachings of a fellow Christian “To put it in the words of St. Thomas Aquinas: an unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law” (64). . By citing a familiar, historical and religious figure of good will as a reference, Dr. King's arguments are better received and more easily associated with the philosophy of a well-known and beloved saint. One of the most powerful ways in which he was able to depict the depths of depravity and the scale of human intervention was to draw attention...... middle of paper .... .. after who is innocent develops a dominant animosity towards whites. Combined, King's use of similes and metaphors paints a picture that is not easily dismissed or forgotten by the reader. With strong ethical, logical, and emotional arguments, King's artfully worded letter is a highly effective rebuttal both defensively and offensively to his cause. Profoundly written in a dark time, King's letter was an inspiration to himself and his intended audience of clergy. His undeniable ability to capture his readers' attention visually, spiritually, and aurally makes this enduring historical document a fantastic read and an example of almost perfectly executed rhetoric. Works Cited Jr., Dr. Martin Luther King. “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Miller, Brock, Sansom. Discover a voice, a rhetoric for writers. Southlake: Fountainhead Press, 2009. 428. Book Section.