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Obama vs. King

I agree that in both “A More Perfect Union” and “Letter from Birmingham Jail” there is a use of logos or logic to back up the claims made by both men. To add, they both use the logic in such ways that make both their stories interesting and insightful to the issue at hand. I would also say that Obama does use his story, his past, and his compassion to give an emotional aspect to his story that people have found way more passionate than King’s essay. However I would have to disagree with the opinion that most people have been saying that Obama’s emotional aspect better conveys his point than the ones that King uses in his essay. 

Although King does use mostly logic to support his claims he does also use emotional connections to show his perspective. He talks about being called “boy” and how his wife will never have the title of Mrs. because of the color of his skin. He also describes having to tell his children why white people are so mean to colored people, and ultimately he goes on with the wear and tear that people of color has to experience everyday in that time. King uses this paragraph to remind us just how horrible it is for people like him everyday to go through things such as that. It doesn’t matter that he uses more logic in his essay because we already know how bad it was during this time. Especially now looking back in our history. We don’t have to be told over and over again because we know it now; it’s in our history books and apart of our culture today in America no matter what color you are. 

While Obama's speech does seems to have both a logical and emotional standpoint that makes the reader feel more connected to what he is saying, I believe the subjects that are discussed in both essays are two completely different topics. So after reading both, it is hard to say who uses logic and emotion better because of the content they are talking about. 

Overall I would say King’s speech is more impactful because he uses his words carefully to convey a message that is now known worldwide. Obama’s speech makes you feel a certain way because he tries to relate to the reader on a “human compassion” type level so that when he tells his story you start to feel more connected. This is why I think more people feel more connected when they read Obama’s essay, but I believe you kind of have to take yourself out of it for a minute to really take in what is being said in both essays.

Speech & Letter

Dr. Martin Luther King and President Barack Obama both present compelling arguments in favor of a shift in the nation’s condition. However, because both the audiences of these authors/orators and the context under which they were delivered are different, the achieved effect on the audience of both bodies of work will also be different. King, writing from a dark jail cell in Birmingham, is responding to a host of clergymen who had previously denounced his civil protests in an attempt to oust the portion of the civil right movement that was taking place in Alabama. Obama delivered “A More Perfect Union” vying for the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination. In terms of authorial presentation, King’s speech is more compelling because of the context under which it was written. King’s purpose, as conveyed through his letter, is to peaceable disagree with the charges that have been brought against him by the clergymen of Alabama. In terms of logic President Obama’s speech makes a more profound imprint on the reader due to the fact that his claims are supported by his own life. In terms of emotion, King’s speech is more poignant through his usage of descriptive language. He describes vividly the life of the average African American living in the south in the 1960s, giving the reader a clearer sense of the motivation behind King’s argument. All things considered, King’s argument is more compelling.

Dr. King and Obama's response

“Letter from Birmingham” by Dr. King focuses more on expressing his motives on non-violent actions while Obama’s letter is to inform the audience about how racism still exists and as a whole country we can stop it. Both, Dr. King and Obama greatly express on racism and segregation along with using historical events to back up their argument. I find Dr. King’s letter to be more compelling due to more examples and even though he is only administrating to the clergymen he does a good job at explaining how he feels, what is going on in Birmingham, and the tone he has throughout his letter. Dr. King greatly expresses how disappointed he is in how his movement was defined “unwise and untimely” just because he wants to put an end to the injustice going on Birmingham. Upon reading his letter I felt as if I was one of the clergymen dealing with the situation. The similarities that I found in the two passages were that they both promote to stop racism. Obama’s letter deals more with explaining his background history connecting it with racism which I found quite interesting. The reason why is because he grew up in an era where segregation was barely lifting off. It was sad that he couldn’t be seen in public with his father because he was a white man. He faced many adversities due to that. Obama’s letter makes a strong point due to his story and using many historical events like the Jim Crow Laws, and Brown vs. Board of Education. 

Letter vs. Speech

Martin Luther King's, "A Letter from Birmingham Jail" is different from president Obama's "More Perfect Union" speech in the different ways they take their positions. In Obama's speech, Obama is very passionate about changing America for the better. He wants to take a positive action for the people and the well being of the country and highlights all of the ways he wants to do that. In contrast, King's letter highlights all of the problems that he has been through and all of the bad things that people of the church, who are supposed to represent the Lord, are actually the ones who are committing these crimes. Both authors are very passionate about the subject they are talking about, and only differ in the way they approach it.

Kings "Letter from Birmingham Jail" differs from Obamas "More Perfect Union" speech in the positions they take. King is speaking for himself in these terms to help clarify what he and organization are trying to accomplish and then addresses the leaders of Birmingham. This is seen as he begins the first few paragraphs with "I". Obama does much of the same but is vague at the beginning with the problem he is going to confront. He talks about the larger issue rather than focusing on the issue with his pastor. King uses a strong emotions to get his points across. This is seen when he says "when you have to concoct an answer for a five year old son who is asking: 'Daddy, why do white people treat colored people so mean?'" 

 

Birmingham Jail and A More Perfect Union

The first major difference I noticed between these two documents is the authorial presentation of these two great men. In Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail" he starts by introducing this letter as a defense against criticisms, while in Barack Obama's "A More Perfect Union" he starts with a quote from one of the greatest documents in America's history. This sets the tone for each of these papers, and sets the tone for the way each author presents himself. King says, "I have the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and organization operating in every southern state... We have some eighty five affiliated organizations across the South..." Explaining the operations that he is in charge of, and talking about the power and responsibility he holds seems to be an attempt to convince his critics of his legitimacy as a leader. Obama has no such paragraph within his paper, and focuses primarily on the issue he is discussing. He doesn't discuss the operations of the United States or the allies it serves, and any attempt at convincing critics of his legitimacy is hidden and spaced throughout the paper.
Another difference in authorial presentation is the greatness each man perceives of himself. In the third paragraph of his letter, King compares himself to the apostle Paul, and compares his mission to Birmingham to Paul's "Macedonian call for aid". Paul was the greatest disciple of the Christian religion. He was specifically pointed out by Jesus Christ as the rock that his church would be built upon. The comparison King makes to himself and Paul is outright vain, and I believe that his audience, who is already skeptical of him, would think the same thing. If anything, Obama humbles himself by discussing his beginnings, discussing how his grandmother and grandfather raised him, and how his wife is the direct descendent of people who suffered from slavery.
Obama's authorial presentation in "A More Perfect Union" goes hand in hand with its tone. The essay is inspirational and genuine. Although from a different time, and maybe one of the key players in his presidency, I believe that Martin Luther King, Jr. could have stood to learn a few things about authorial presentation from Barack Obama.