Answer:
In a public declaration, critics labeled King's current activities "unwise and untimely." This comment disturbed him so much so that he felt compelled to compose this letter in response. King's goal in writing this letter is to defend his nonviolent resistance strategy against racism. For the sake of his cause, King intended to demonstrate that racial discrimination was morally wrong. Parallelism, religious appeals, allusions, rhetorical questions, process structure, and cause and effect were used to support his argument.
Counterarguments are a common theme in this letter from King. "I think you should give the reason for my being in Birmingham, since you have been influenced by the argument of "outsiders coming in" (King P2). King's goal is to demonstrate that he is not an "outsider" who has just arrived. King's goal is to show that he is not an "outsider coming in." King explains this. He makes his case stronger by saying, "I have the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference" (King P2).
In response to the question "You may well ask, "Why direct action, why sit-ins, marches, and so forth? Isn’t negotiation a better path?"  (King P9). To better understand why direct action is so important, King wrote this book. "You are exactly right in your call for negotiation," he tells the clerics (king P9). "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" (king P9).  King says in his counter argument (king P9). Also, King uses contrast "will aid mankind on their journey to ascend from the depths of prejudice and racism to the magnificent heights of understanding and fraternity" (King P9). His counterarguments are strengthened by the use of these methods. This paragraph is an attempt to convince the clerics that they need to have more dialogue.
Explanation:
(311 words) Hopefully this can get you started...
This is my point-of-view, please feel free to alter to your point-of-view.
