Martin Luther King's metaphors attempt to influence clergymen to put themselves in the shoes of African Americans. He expresses the deprivation of African Americans with a metaphor when he writes; “When you see the vast majority of your twenty million Negro brothers suffocating in an airtight cage of poverty in the midst of an affluent society…” King compares “suffocation in an airtight cage” to the poverty suffered by African Americans. A second metaphor described racial injustice as “quicksand.” Using the metaphor “quicksand” gives urgency to the problem. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay This quote demonstrates how racial injustice is harming America and placing its citizens in dangerous circumstances. While racial injustice and quicksand are different, they are both negative elements that cause destruction. Additionally, metaphors can be seen again in King's letter where they are used to convey injustice as immoral. King highlights this situation by stating that it is as painful as “a boil which can never be cured as long as it is covered but must be opened with all its pusking ugliness to the natural medicines of air and light…” In other words a point of healing is parallel to uncovering racial injustice so it can be resolved. When racism is exposed, people can see the true horror of the problem. He believes that this use of metaphor will make his audience think about these circumstances in detail. Furthermore, in the second sentence of paragraph 14, King juxtaposes the rate of change in Asian and African cultures with the rate of change in American culture. To achieve this juxtaposition, he creates a metaphor, stating that Africa and Asia are “moving with the speed of an airplane towards political independence, but we continue to proceed at a horse and buggy pace towards a cup of coffee at the lunch counter”. The effect of this metaphor is shocking, since America, being one of the most powerful countries on Earth, is less progressive than a third world country. The way he says it is also extremely powerful, which shows that African people are extremely close to something huge like complete political independence, but Americans are not even close to being able to eat in the same restaurants. : This is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay However, there is much more to this metaphor than meets the eye. The cup not only represents the ability to eat together with white men, but it also represents total equality, which is something extremely desirable. “There comes a time when the cup of patience overflows and men are no longer willing to allow themselves to be plunged into the abyss of despair.” Once again he refers to this cup as what the niggas are trying to get. One day their dream will be realized and their cup will be full. A simple object like a cup can symbolize something much grander than its physical appearance.