They Say, I Say

1. They Say, I Say Entering the Conversation

2. Introduction

3. They Say… Can we summarize the Clergyman’s message? Wait and let the courts handle the issue of civil rights.

4. While confined here in the Birmingham city jail, I came across your recent statement calling my present activities “unwise and untimely.” Seldom do I… I think I should indicate why I am here in Birmingham, since you have been influenced by the view which argues against “outsiders coming in.” But more basically, I am in Birmingham because injustice is here. King responds to what he has read. King uses the Clergyman’s words. King gives his reason.

5. They Say, I Say • You deplore the demonstrations taking place in Birmingham. • Let with no other choice = the cause. • You may well ask: “Why direct action? Why sit-ins, marches and so forth? Isn’t negotiation a better path?” • Tension necessary for growth – refers to Socrates.

6. They Say, I Say • Why didn’t you give the new city administration time to act? • While new mayor is kinder, he is also a segregationist and maintainer of the status quo. • You express a great deal of anxiety over our willingness to break laws. • Just and unjust laws exist. One’s right and moral obligation to disobey unjust laws.

7. They Say, I Say • In your statement you assert that our actions, even though peaceful, must be condemned because they precipitate violence. • Questions logic with examples. • You speak of our activity of Birmingham as extreme. • Counters with other examples of men being labeled “extreme.”

8. They Say, I Say • I have heard numerous southern religious leaders admonish their worshipers to comply with a desegregation decision because it is the law. • Points out the fakeness in the conspicuousness of church members and leaders adhering to the law. • You warmly commended the Birmingham police force for keeping “order” and “preventing violence.” • Counters with contrary evidence King’s thesis: defending civil disobedience is necessary.

9. Anaphora • The intentional repetition of beginning clauses in order to create an artistic effect. • For instance, Churchill declared, "We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on the end. We shall fight in France. We shall fight on the seas and oceans. We shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air. We shall defend our island, whatever the cost shall be." • The repetition of "We shall. . ." creates a rhetorical effect of solidarity and determination.

10. Anaphora

11. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way- in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

12. Epistrophe • Repetition of a concluding word or word endings. • For example, “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny compared to what lies within us." —Emerson • Hourly joys be still upon you!
Juno sings her blessings on you. [. . .]
Scarcity and want shall shun you,
Ceres' blessing so is on you. 
— Shakespeare, The Tempest (4.1.108-109; 116-17) • We are born to sorrow, pass our time in sorrow, end our days in sorrow.

13. Homework • Read They Say, I Say pgs. 17-26 (Chapter 1) • Read “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift • Read “Don’t Make English Official—Ban It Instead” by Dennis Baron • All readings are attached in engrade.com on the calendar feature. E-mail me if you have trouble accessing any of the readings.