In this excerpt from “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” Dr. King’s choice of words captures a tone of frustration and disappointment through his vivid depiction of broken promises and systemic injustice. Phrases like “we were the victims of a broken promise” and “blasted hopes” convey a profound sense of betrayal and despair. He emphasizes Birmingham's racial segregation and police brutality by calling it “the most thoroughly segregated city” and referencing “unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches,” underscoring the severity of the injustices faced. This language not only reflects his frustration with the failure of negotiations but also highlights the emotional toll those experiences inflicted on the community he represents.
Letter from Birmingham Jail Excerpt: "In any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps: 1) collection of the facts to determine whether injustices are alive; 2) negotiation; 3) self-purification; and 4) direct action. We have gone through all of these steps in Birmingham … Birmingham is probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States. Its ugly record of police brutality is known in every section of the country. Its unjust treatment of Negroes in the courts is a notorious reality. There have been more unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches in Birmingham than in any city in this nation. These are the hard, brutal, and unbelievable facts. On the basis of these conditions Negro leaders sought to negotiate with the city fathers. But the political leaders consistently refused to engage in good faith negotiation. Then came the opportunity last September to talk with some of the leaders of the economic community. In these negotiating sessions certain promises were made by the merchants—such as the promise to remove the humiliating racial signs from the stores. On the basis of these promises Reverend Shuttlesworth and the leaders of the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights agreed to call a moratorium on any type of demonstrations. As the weeks and months unfolded we realized that we were the victims of a broken promise. The signs remained. As in so many experiences in the past, we were confronted with blasted hopes, and the dark shadow of a deep disappointment settled upon us. So we had no alternative except that of preparing for direct action, whereby we would present our very bodies as a means of laying our case before the conscience of the local and national community. We were not unmindful of the difficulties involved. So we decided to go through the process of self-purification. We started having workshops on nonviolence and repeatedly asked ourselves the questions, “are you able to accept the blows without retaliating?” “Are you able to endure the ordeals of jail?”" Credit Line: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” April 16, 1963. The Estate of Martin Luther King, Jr. Answer the following question in 3-5 Sentences: In this short excerpt from “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” how does Dr. King’s choice of words reflect the tone of frustration and disappointment? Provide specific examples from the text to support your analysis. (4 points)
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