Compare And Contrast Letter From Birmingham Jail And Plato's Crito

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Justice is a related theme that appears very often in ancient Greek literature and modern day stories. While philosophers and modern thinkers praise justice, most end up dying for what they are convinced in. In Plato’s Crito, Socrates has the chance to escape execution, but he chooses not to because it is not suitable for a man to harm others, even if they have harmed him. He doesn’t believe in revenge, for that means doing wrong to others. Martin Luther King Jr. writes the Letter from Birmingham Jail to help acknowledge and bring exposure to the Birmingham community and to the United States the injustices that are happening to African Americans. While both stories seek justice, each has its parallel ways of portraying it. How does the definition …show more content…

He addresses the issue by stating, “In a nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps.” King knows that all these steps must be implemented in full in order for him to achieve equal rights for the African American community. That’s exactly what happens in Birmingham. King, the smart man that he is famous for, is able to appeal to the audience by using his experiences and emotions. He captivates the audience by stating what was happening to his fellow companions: the ways the whites were taking advantage of the blacks. By following the four basic steps to the campaign, King, and the black community is seeking equal rights for …show more content…

Although King wrote this letter in a jail cell he didn’t belong in, it didn’t stop him from throwing the truth out there. He knew all the bad things his people were going through and wanted the world to hear it as well. Someone had to step up and defend what is right and the man, the myth, and the legend, was smart in doing so. He gave the black community hopes and unity, something so strong that it is virtually impossible to break. Martin Luther King Jr. was instrumental in the beginning of a new generation where the way blacks are treated in America would be different. For that, King will always be remembered on his day, the third Monday of January each year as a