Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of the text. Read this excerpt from "A Letter from Birmingham Jail" b
y Martin Luther King Jr.: Its ugly record of brutality is widely known. Negroes have experienced grossly unjust treatment in the courts. There have been more unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches in Birmingham than in any other city in the nation. These are the hard, brutal facts of the case. How does King's use of charged language such as "ugly record of brutality," "grossly unjust," and "brutal facts" best advance his viewpoint? It captures how disgusted King is by the poor treatment of black people. It reveals King's nonviolent approach to addressing racism in Birmingham. It highlights how stunned King was to learn that black people were treated in this way. It illustrates King's complex and evolving views regarding racism and segregation.
Writers use direct characterization in a story by revealing the traits, thoughts, comments, reaction, and actions of the characters in a direct manner.
