In the passage beginning with "My friends, I must say to you ...," Dr. King employs inclusive and conversational language, addressing his audience as "friends" to foster a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose. The repetition of phrases emphasizes unity, as he acknowledges the frustrations and struggles of the African American community, reinforcing their collective experience. His vivid imagery of simple, everyday actions, like drinking coffee, connects the campaign for civil rights to the mundane aspects of life, making the struggle relatable and underscoring the importance of equality in all spaces. Together, these elements create a unifying tone that invites solidarity and hopeful resilience in the face of injustice.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” April 16, 1963. The Estate of Martin Luther King, Jr.
In 3–5 sentences, explain how the speaker’s word choice and the relationships among words in the paragraph beginning with “My friends, I must say to you …” and ending with “... cup of coffee at a lunch counter.” produce a unifying tone.
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