Words are louder than speech: Critical Discourse Analysis of Martin Luther King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail (16 April 1963) in Socio-Political Perspective

Abstract

This study employs Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to examine Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail (16 April 1963), focusing on its socio-political implications. Written in response to clergymen who criticized his nonviolent protests, the letter is a cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement and an enduring manifesto for justice and equality. By analyzing the language, rhetoric, and ideological underpinnings of King’s discourse, this research investigates how his use of persuasive techniques, such as ethos, pathos, and logos, reflects and challenges the political climate of his time. The study reveals how King’s rhetoric not only critiques systemic oppression but also strategically positions his arguments within the broader struggle for civil rights and social change. By situating King’s letter within the socio-political context of 1963 America, this analysis underscores the power of language as a tool for resistance and societal transformation, highlighting how words, as articulated by King, transcend the immediate moment to shape a lasting socio-political discourse.