Logos and Pathos In King's Letter From Birmingham Jail The civil rights movement has always relied on individuals who believe in the greatest good for the greatest number of people. It has always been the people who are able to look at the bigger picture who are ultimately the most effective in making changes. In 1963, eight Alabama clergymen wrote a public statement condemning King’s actions in a recent nonviolent campaign. In his “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” King uses the appeal of ethos most effectively in supporting his argument because it allows him to reinforce an inspiring, intuitive and idealistic image of himself.