In April 1963, locked in a Birmingham jail, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote: “Human progress never rides on the wheels of inevitability; it results from the tireless efforts of men willing to be God’s co-workers, and without this hard work, time itself becomes the ally of the forces of social stagnation.” In Dr. King's Letter from Birmingham Jail, he accurately demonstrates his distinctive ability to influence public opinion by appropriating ideas from the Bible, the Constitution, and other canonical texts (Autobiography); establishing credibility, appealing to the audience's logic, and invoking the emotional aspects of the plight of African Americans during this era. In this letter, Dr. King begins by establishing his credibility with the clergymen for whom he is writing, with statements such as "I believe that you are men of real good will and that your criticisms are sincere" and "I have the honored to serve as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization operating in every Southern state, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. We have some eighty-five affiliated organizations throughout the South, and one of them is the Christian Human Rights Movement of Alabama” (King). It is in statements like these that he finally says to his audience: "I am an equal, I stand for the same things as you." These clergymen questioned Dr. King's methods of protest, although they said they ultimately supported his cause. In order to gain their already broken trust, Dr. King appeals to them as colleagues using scripture and key people from the Bible text to capture their attention and regain their trust; with points like "Of course, there's nothing new about this kind of s..." middle of paper ...... an answer for a five year old son who asks: "Dad, why do “White people treat colored people so meanly?” (King). Furthermore, by establishing credibility, appealing to audience logic, and invoking the emotional aspects of the plight of African Americans in 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was able to claim that his activities in Birmingham, Alabama were wise and timely. “What else can you do when you are alone in a narrow prison cell but write long letters; think long and pray long” (King). Works Cited Carlson, Clayborn. “King, Martin Luther, Jr. (1929-1968).” Home of the King Institute. Internet. October 20, 2010. .King, Jr., Martin L. “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” English 121 readings. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin, 2010. 112-26. Print.