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In his Letter from Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King Jr. makes a sound and effective argument against Southern clergymen that the actions performed by him leading to his imprisonment were justified. His argument is effective because he used references from the Bible that the clergymen are familiar with to argue to them that breaking a law is just if the law is unjust. For example, King argued the idea that disobeying unjust laws can be justified by referencing three biblical figures that disobeyed an unjust law and survived their punishment through divine intervention (21). King also strengthened his argument by refuting the clergymen’s opinions that his actions were too extreme.
Martin Luther King uses allusion in “Letter from Birmingham Jail” to add greater meaning to the cause he is defending. Dr. King includes many biblical references in his writing to compare the similarities between actions in the bible and his. For instance, Martin Luther King says “like Paul, I must constantly respond to the Macedonian call for aid.” Since Martin Luther King King is writing his letter to clergymen, his religious allusions are used to appeal to them; specifically, Dr. King brings up the point that certain tension is caused by people who have been subjected to grievances and believe “...that the white man is an incurable ‘devil.’” In saying this, Martin Luther King tells the clergymen that their sanctimonious acts and racial
In his "Letter from Birmingham Jail," Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. expressed his views on unfair laws, which brings a strong moral qualm. He argues that while people have a moral need to rebel against unjust laws, they similarly have a legal obligation to respect just laws. According to King, unjust laws are those that decrease human dignity and create a sense of shame, like segregation laws. King's ability to discern between a just and injust law and understand how the laws are applied makes his case more compelling. He recognizes that certain laws could seem fair on the surface but end up being unfair in practice.
In Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” he is addressing the Clergymen, more specifically the white church and its leadership who criticized his efforts in the civil rights movement, by calling his demonstrations unwise and untimely. He is also simultaneously addressing the national audience as well in letting them know of the injustices of the time. It was 1963, and Martin Luther King Jr. wrote this letter from inside a jail cell. He had been arrested during an anti-segregation march for not having a valid parading permit in Birmingham, Alabama. In this letter he addresses the criticisms that were brought forth to him.
Whether it was between the various bombings of African American households, offensive and racist segregational legislation, or the prevalent consistency of discrimination against colored people throughout the entire history of the United States, certain individuals like Martin Luther King Jr. assured their energy would be spent battling against the racial discrimination during the 1960s. Consequently, King’s efforts to non-violently protest still led to his imprisonment in Birmingham City on charges that had violated Alabama’s legislation against mass public demonstrations. While imprisoned at the Birmingham City Jail, King utilized any sort of material to compose his own literary wrath in response to white-clergymen who had previously criticized
In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. led a peaceful movement in Birmingham, Alabama. The purpose of the demonstration was to bring awareness and end to racial disparity in Birmingham. Later that night, King and his followers were detained by city authorities. While in custody, King wrote the famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” This letter voiced out his disappointment in the criticisms, and oppositions that the general public and clergy peers obtained.
Slavery had been abolished by the time Martin Luther King Jr. had grown up, but the aftermath was still being sorted out, with him leading the charge to fix the wrongs committed against African Americans. After a peaceful protest, he was sent to Birmingham Jail, where he would write a letter. He could’ve paused to answer criticisms but he didn’t, only wrote the letter to appeal to the masses whose rights were limited and lives were under constant bereavement. This letter would apply to these masses, and in turn, call upon their humanity, morals, and ethics. MLK went on to state the reasons he was in Birmingham at all.
Kings Letter Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested and jailed on April 12, 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama, fifty-two ago years today. He had violated an injunction to block marches in protest of the cities segregation policies. King intended to use Birmingham as a catalyst to launch a campaign against southern segregation towards blacks. King envisioned a massive movement of nonviolent protests that would use the leverage of the Easter holiday boycott to force downtown stores to integrate. While incarcerated, King wrote the “Letter from Birmingham Jail.”
Response to “Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr. In Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, he responded to statements written in a Birmingham newspaper that criticized his actions in the city. He undermined these disapprovals by explaining his belief in nonviolent direct action. King also went on to give opinions on other topics, such as, the lack of support from white moderates and white churches. He used technique and structure to develop his ideas and justify his methods.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Martin Luther King Jr. says this in the “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. He says this because he feels responsible for everyone in Birmingham and “whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly”. Everything needed to be right or that it would eventually affect everyone and everything. The reason he wrote this letter was because he was trying to convince the eight clergymen that him and his people should use the demonstrations that King provides because it would bring Birmingham out in so many ways.
King and the Personal Plea Read Martin Luther King's "Letter From The Birmingham Jail" from your course pack and answer the following questions: 1. How does King use his personal experience to make his point? King’s personal experience during his stay in the Birmingham jail letter is based on his daily life experiences. Since Birmingham was one of the most racist places during the fifties and sixties, King found a need to go there and speak up against the racial injustices which were taking place.
In the text “Letters from Birmingham jail “by Martin Luther King Jr. and “The speech at the March of Washington “by Josephine Baker, both stated their opinions and thoughts without violence and letting their voices be heard on how important it is for everyone to have equality. These passages revealed that in order to achieve true freedom society must practice a non-violence manner to affirm the truth that everyone is equal no matter where you are from. To begin with, non-violence is a way to conquer true freedom. In 1954 the Civil Rights Movement has started and ended in 1968.
I believe that paragraphs 9 and 12 from Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” are the strongest paragraphs in this letter of his. These paragraph is so profound and truly explain why segregation is unjust in two short paragraphs. They don’t go into a lot of detail on why segregation is unjust, because they don’t need to. They’re argument is strong enough with how short they are. Since these paragraphs give an easy to understand and short reasoning as to why segregation is unjust, explains what makes a law just or unjust, and show that just laws can be unjust when applied to situations such as segregation, I believe they are the strongest paragraphs in this letter.
Civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr, in his Letter from Birmingham City Jail, argues against criticism from eight Alabama clergymen, and addresses their concerns. He defends his position, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), against accusations of disturbing the peace in Birmingham, as well as explaining his values and opinions. Throughout the letter, King adopts a strong logical and credible tone, and reinforces his position through the use of strong emotional justifications, in order to appeal to the clergymen and defend his public image. Martin Luther King opens up his Letter from Birmingham City Jail by appealing to the clergymen's emotions, and assuring his peaceful response, which he describes in "patient and
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” “defends the use of non-violent protest to fight racism, and based upon Christian beliefs and natural law, he explains why people have a moral responsibility to break unjust laws” (viii). This text relates to the CIT claim, “The dignity of every human being is inviolable and the commitment to justice for the common good is necessary.” “All human beings- regardless of their race, gender, religion, class, ethnicity, or sexual orientation- have innate dignity and it is our responsibility to respect that dignity, in ourselves and in others” (ix). The reason for Dr. King’s presence in Birmingham was because injustice was there.
