A Letter From Birmingham Jail By Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

658 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Analysis of a letter from a birmingham jail

After being arrested in downtown Birmingham on a Good Friday, Reverend Martian Luther King Jr. wrote his famous letter, “A Letter From Birmingham Jail” responding to the criticism demonstrated by eight prominent white clergymen. This letter has been found important through out history because it expresses King’s feelings towards the un-just event and it is an example of a well-written argument. The author, Dr. Martian Luther King Jr., makes a statement “Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue.” He uses this concept to convey the point of the Negros hard work to negotiate the issue has failed, but now they must confront it. The March on Good Friday, 1963, 53 blacks, led by Reverend Martian Luther King, Jr., was his first physical protest to segregation laws that had taken place after several efforts to simply negotiate. The author uses several phrases that describe his nonviolent efforts and his devotion to the issue of segregation that makes the reader believe his how seriously King takes this issue. “Conversely, one has the moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” Dr. Martian Luther King, Jr. explains with this that an “unjust law is no law at all.” King does not feel like he has broken any laws in his protest against segregation. In his eyes, laws are made to protect the people, not degrade and punish. “The Negro has many pent up resentments and latent frustrations, and he must release them. So let him March.” As far as King is concerned, the Negros will continue to do whatever is necessary, preferably non-violently, to obtain the moral and legal right that is theirs. If they are not allowe... ... middle of paper ... ...to jail. He was beaten and put down in jail, but he never gave up on his idea of God and never once regret they steps he took to spread the work of God, despite where he ended up. “Whether our dreams have been crushed by forces beyond our control – injustice, disaster, or the death of a love one – or we’ve shattered them ourselves through cowardice, poor judgment, moral laxity, or laziness, hope is not beyond us. Nor are we beyond hope – as long as we press on in Gods direction.” Dr. King uses this powerful statement along with several others like it to really get the point across that you need to fight for what you believe in and don’t lose hope. The process to gain desegregation of African-Americans and whites will be a fight, but they key is to follow in the line of God and keep moving forward, while pushing aside and stepping over any despair you may encounter.

Show More
Related

  • Redefining Structure: Social Stratification in MLK’s “Letters from Birmingham Jail”

    1718 Words  | 4 Pages

    Martin Luther King, Jr. was an eloquent speaker and a powerful figure during the Civil Rights Movement. In “Letters from Birmingham Jail,” he uses the classical rhetoric to engage his audience and present his ideas clearly. This particular text was initiated due to the non-violent demonstrations in Birmingham, Alabama, which led to the arrest of many African-Americans, including King himself. Although this was not a spoken document, the letter was directed to several targeted audiences: first, the clergymen who wrote “A Call for Unity,” secondly, the “white moderate” (47), and finally, to black men and women across the nation who lacked the initial courage to fight for their rights. Dr. King establishes himself as an authoritative voice in the religious community who connects with his multiple audiences through the use of gruesome imagery and hardened logic. An essential part of his intent was to express his deep concern with his fellow clergymen, whom were not at all sympathetic to the movement, yet practiced the word of God.

    Read More

  • Response To Martin Luther King's Letter From Birmingham Jail

    572 Words  | 2 Pages

    In “Letter from Birmingham Jail” Dr. Martin Luther King brings attention to the reality of racial inequality in the 1960s. King writes this letter in response to clergymen addressing their apprehensions regarding the timing of the nonviolence demonstrations. The letter addressees specific arguments presented in the clergymen’s letter and his direct response. King’s goal in writing this letter is to convince the clergymen that his strategies are right and just. In this section, King rebuts the allegation made by the clergymen that his actions were untimely. In his counter argument, King uses repetition, metaphors, emotional appeals in order to persuade the audience to support his cause.

    Read More

  • Martin Luther King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail

    1865 Words  | 4 Pages

    King, Martin Luther Jr. "Letter from Birmingham Jail." A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers. Ed. Lee A. Jacobus. Trans. Stephen Mitchell. 7th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martins, 2006.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Injustice In Letter From Birmingham Jail

    758 Words  | 2 Pages

    talks about how African Americans in the South were being arrested and publicly chastened by the police force for their nonviolent protests. But, he extols these protests because of what they stand for. He says they “…preserve the evil system of segregation…I wish you had commended the Negro demonstrators of Birmingham for their sublime courage, their willingness to suffer, and their amazing discipline in the midst of the most inhuman provocation” (94). Because these people were aiming to end the discrimination they were facing, and did this in a peaceful manner that respected their Judeo-Christian values that all men are created equal, King saw it as exactly what this oppressed group needed. They needed a push of confidence to know that they were being treated unjustly, and that they did have the power to stand up to

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Letter From Birmingham Jail

    783 Words  | 2 Pages

    Martin Luther King, Jr. was a pastor, activist, and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. Mr. King was a man of honor and respect even in the troubling situations of serving jail time. People who were supposed to support him questioned his actions, Dr. King still stood by what he believed in. In Birmingham, Alabama Dr. King hoped that the white religious leaders will come to his aid but instead found reluctance and opposition. In the “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King, Jr. refutes his critics claims through the use of passionate tones, metaphors, and allusions.

    Read More

  • Mr. Luther King's Letter From Birmingham Jail

    408 Words  | 1 Pages

    "Martin Luther King Jr.'s letter from Birmingham Jail, which was written in April 16, 1963, is a passionate letter that addresses and responds to the issue and criticism that a group of white clergymen had thrown at him and his pro- black American organization about his and his organization's non- violent demonstrative actions against racial prejudice and injustice among black Americans in Birmingham.

    Read More

  • Letter From Birmingham Jail Analysis

    1315 Words  | 3 Pages

    Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was the leader of a peaceful movement to end segregation in the United States this mission led him in 1963 to Birmingham, Alabama where officials and leaders in the community actively fought against desegregation. While performing sit-ins, marches and other nonviolent protests, King was imprisoned by authorities for violating the strict segregation laws. While imprisoned King wrote a letter entitled “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, in which he expresses his disappointment in the clergy, officials, and people of Birmingham. This letter employed pathos to argue that the leaders and ‘heroes’ in Birmingham during the struggle were at fault or went against their beliefs.

    Read More

  • A Letter From a Birmingham Jail

    719 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," his thoughts and ideas are directly stated, well expressed, explained, and illustrated. King's style of writing gives the reader a clear glimpse into the world with which he struggled and allows his letter to be powerfully effective.

    Read More

  • Summary Of Martin Luther King's Letter From A Birmingham Jail

    211 Words  | 1 Pages

    Martin Luther King wrote his Letter From a Birmingham Jail not to cause a bigger problem, but to give insight to those unaware of what it was that the civil rights movement was aiming for. He wrote it to make people understand the struggle of a black person in America and to show ordinary Americans that it was not only a civil rights movement, but a human rights movement. He says that the sit-in protests “were in reality standing up for what is best in the American dream and for the most sacred values in our Judaeo Christian heritage”. He says American Dream and Judaeo Christian heritage, both things that most white Americans can relate to. Once you relate your problem to someone else’s problem, your problem becomes their problem. He doesn’t

    Read More

  • Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter From Birmingham Jail

    817 Words  | 2 Pages

    Martin Luther King Jr. is widely regarded as one of the most influential and greatest leaders in history, a title he is very deserving of. In “Letter From Birmingham Jail,” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. displays his compassionate character and inspiring ethics by making references to religion, being respectful to his audience, and showing his thirst for justice. His demonstration of superb character makes King much more respectable and worthy of listening to.

    Read More

  • Martin Luther King's Letter From Birmingham Jail

    1899 Words  | 4 Pages

    One of the more notable points that Martin Luther King’s “Letter from the Birmingham Jail” regarding the state of individual civil rights is there it requires, on the individual level, the need and ability to be impatient if attaining those civil rights proves to be much more difficult than is required. As King comments on frequently throughout the letter, the ministers often criticized his civil protests to be unwise and untimely, wherein the new city administration should have been given the opportunity to react first. Despite this, King argues that not a single gain of civil rights has ever been attained without “determined legal and nonviolent pressure.” It is evident through his letter then that individual civil rights cannot be attained if any semblance of passivism is present, as those with power and authority who also possess privilege only suggest a gradual implementation of what King was requesting to be done. To continue, King also asserted that when individual civil rights are involved, individuals

    Read More

  • An Analysis Of Martin Luther King's Letter From Birmingham Jail

    571 Words  | 2 Pages

    We all know that race was the biggest issue in the Civil Rights movement, considering all of the protests were over racial inequality. During the time, white people believed that black people were less deserving than white people, which is the reason for white men being used as a part of the Civil Rights campaign to protest in front of courts as opposed to having black men do it. Like we have covered earlier in the essay, one of the biggest protesters of the time was Martin Luther King Jr. Going more in-depth into the time period, we can see how King’s protests and his Letter from Birmingham jail were significant to his movement and the Civil Rights movement as a whole. King started his method of peaceable protesting to get rid of the unjust Jim Crow laws around 1946 when the Atlanta Constitution published King’s letter that stated black people “are entitled to the basic rights and opportunities of American citizens.” These laws originate back to the end of the Civil War, when Southern states put laws in place to oppress black men and women and keep them separate from

    Read More

  • Martin Luther King's Letter From Birmingham Jail

    467 Words  | 1 Pages

    Thesis: Racial injustice, inhumane treatment and segregation of African Americans had been fostered and traditionalized by the powers that be, politically and religiously. MLK writes this letter in form of a response to his “fellow Clergymen” whom are non-Negro, about his present activities which they deemed “ unwise and untimely”, disapproving of the non-violent demonstrations for human rights, justice and equality-- “but your statement, I am sorry to say, fails to express a similar concern for the conditions that brought about the demonstrations” (MLK 2004, 1) Injustice existed in Birmingham needing a course of action—“In any non-violent campaign there are four basic steps: collection of facts to determine whether

    Read More

  • What It Means To Be An America Essay

    868 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although the United States is continually striving towards equal rights for all citizens, life in America was not always this way. For years, colored communities had found ways to peacefully protest the government's denial of their civil rights. One of the most prominent figures during this movement was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In 1963, Dr. King participated in several nonviolent demonstrations opposing the unjust laws of segregation, which led to his imprisonment in Birmingham, Alabama. During this time, Dr. King wrote a response, which he titled “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” addressing a public statement made by eight white religious leaders. In his letter, King states, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (King 1963). This statement is meant to be the main focus of the letter because it explains King’s involvement with the nonviolent protests and his desire for racial equality. Dr. King continues to support his statement by describing how the white community continues to “curse, kick, brutalize, and even kill” the Negro race (King 1963). This injustice, according to King, must cease to exist. If it does not, this once great country will become corrupt, which will only endanger our

    Read More

  • The Fight Against Segregation and Racial Discrimination

    712 Words  | 2 Pages

    Martin Luther King's “Letter from Birmingham Jail” aims the importance of non violence in order to stop the frustrations which were growing in the minds of “Negro” (King). He urged to the white people to abolish all the unjust laws that were the main cause for injustice against his community. In addition to this, he was utterly disappointed due to the continuous refusal for negotiation from the leaders of Birmingham.

    Read More

More about A Letter From Birmingham Jail By Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Open Document