Why We Can’t Wait by Martin Luther King, Jr

In Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Why We Can’t Wait, Martin Luther King, Jr. describes the harsh treatment of Negroes while they were fighting for their freedom. Negroes were not allowed to vote, sit at lunch counters with whites, use the same restrooms as whites, or even ride next to whites on buses. Martin Luther King, Jr. led the Birmingham movement in efforts to gain freedom for the Negroes. The Birmingham movement was successful because it gained freedom for blacks, desegregated many places, and it opened up many job opportunities for blacks that they never had before.
First of all, the Birmingham movement was successful in that it taught the blacks to work together to fight for their freedom. King said, “One of the most gratifying developments was the unprecedented show of unity that was displayed by the national Negro community in support of our crusade. From all over the country came Negro ministers, civil-rights leaders, entertainers, star athletes and ordinary citizens, ready to speak at our meetings or join us in jail” (131). The entire African American community worked together doing what they had to do to aide in the fight for freedom. Everyone wanted to help and each person was given a tremendous part to play in the movement whether it was participating in the bus boycott, marching, or raising bail money to bail out the ones thrown in jail.
Next, the Birmingham movement was successful in that for the first time in a long time, the Negroes felt free. King said, “The full dimensions of victory can be found only by comprehending the change within the minds of millions of Negroes. From the depths in which the spirit of freedom was imprisoned, an impulse for liberty burst through” (135). The blacks realized that freedom c...

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... strong civil-rights bill at the top of the Congressional calendar” (143). This would give the civil-rights bill the chance to be turned into a law. The administration had decided not to push for this bill to be turned into a law until the movement took place. Without the movement, the bill probably would have never had the chance to be turned into a law. The movement opened many doors for the Negroes. These doors would have never been opened otherwise.
In conclusion, the Birmingham movement was very successful in attaining freedom, getting rid of segregation, and giving the Negroes job opportunities. Without this movement, the world would probably still be segregated today. Martin Luther King, Jr. took a stand and freedom was won. He is considered a hero by many.

Works Cited

King, Martin Luther, Jr. Why We Can't Wait. n.p.: New York, Harper & Row, 1964. Print.