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How Is Injustice Shown In Letter From Birmingham Jail

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Love Your Enemies In Martin Luther King Jr. ’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” he brings attention to the injustice going on in Birmingham, Alabama, as well as throughout the South. In King's letter, he addresses the eight clergymen who were religious leaders at the time and tells them that he could no longer delay the importance of his protest movements; moreover, he makes it clear that the people of the movement can only wait for so long before they grow tired of waiting for “the right time.” He makes it known that civil disobedience can be an appropriate response when injustice is present. Martin Luther King Jr. displayed an assertive and rational response to the grievance that was occurring throughout the southern regions of the United …show more content…

He delivers his message in a very clear and concise manner, making it easier for the reader to understand and relate to what he is trying to say. King states, “Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever. The urge for freedom will eventually come.” (King par. 30) This quote shows King’s direct response to the clergymen telling him and his fellow protesters that they need to delay their civil rights movement because it just isn’t the best time. He warns the ministers that if this movement is put off for too long, there will be a time when violent protests and riots will break out because there is a drastic need for change in a broken society such as the one that was present at the …show more content…

's “Letter From Birmingham Jail”, is a timeless piece that was used not only in the past but can be applied to the present and future as well. This piece holds much value because there will always be persecution and injustice present but this text reminds everyone that there can be a difference made if you stick to what you believe and fight for change. King shows us that through non-violent protests you can get your point across in an effective way because you are showing more strength by not giving your persecutors the satisfaction of knowing that they control you and your emotions. He was ahead of his time in the sense that he set the precedent for the rest of humanity to fight for equality and to love those who hate you, even if it is grueling. Too many people will choose caution over courage, and King was a prime example of why we should all choose courage no matter the adversity and detestation that may come with

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68 Words | 1 Pages

Jenil Patel Mr. Harper English 1102 29 August 2017 Summary and Analysis of “Letter from Birmingham Jail” In the “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” Martin Luther King Jr. writes to Clergymen in response to their open letter criticizing him and his Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham. In this letter, King tells the clergymen that he is upset about what they said and wishes to address them one by one.

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Well-known minister, activist, humanitarian, and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King, Jr., in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” masterfully craft his reply to the eight clergymen on their accusation that his nonviolent protest movement is “extreme”. King’s purpose is to influence to not only the clergymen themselves, but to convey to his audience that all his actions are justified and that they are not an exhortation to extremism. He creates a logical tone; moreover, with the incorporation of logical appeals and several rhetorical devices such as parallel structures and rhetorical questions, helps shift the audiences’ attention from the claim established by the clergymen to King’s point of view. King exhibits his view on the current situation in Birmingham, Alabama in which influenced him to be there; thus, inconsequently lead him to his imprisonment in Birmingham Jail. He acknowledges that there are two opposing forces that exist in Birmingham, one of which is stated, “[A] force of complacency, made up in part of Negroes who […] become insensitive to the problems of the masses” (27) and “The other force is one of bitterness and hatred […] close to advocating violence” (27).

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895 Words | 4 Pages

He as well emphasizes the importance of the demonstration in moral and historical grounds. In this letter, King explains the importance and the planning of the Birmingham demonstration. King illustrates this when he faces the criticism of his demonstrations as “unwise and untimely” (King 1). He shares key features to his anti-violence movement: “determining whether injustices exist, negotiation, self-purification, and direct action” (King 1).

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770 Words | 4 Pages

In Martin Luther King Jr’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” King responds to the criticisms written by a group of clergymen about the work that he and his followers (the oppressed black people, members of the SCLC, and a select few of white supporters) are pursuing in Birmingham. Although King directly addresses his fellow clergymen, he expresses deep disappointment in the white churches and moderates of the south as well. Throughout the letter the audience can read how the actions committed against black people by religious and nonreligious white moderates alike causes for injustice to take place in falsely depicted ‘just’ ways. King explains the flaw of how those who fight against him are not solely fighting against their own brothers and

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837 Words | 4 Pages

The writer, Martin Luther King Jr., was a leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and was in favor to equality. Moreover, he believed in nonviolence protest to obtain discrimination in America. On April 16, 1963, when King was in jail, he wrote the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” to justify his actions and to response the eight clergymen who called him “unwise, untimely and extreme” in the article, “A Call for Unity.” In his letter, he declares that he is in Birmingham because there is injustice. King’s appeal to pathos and his use of evidence combine to create an argument that achieves its purpose of providing that his nonviolence actions are just, and that the laws are unjust.

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1060 Words | 5 Pages

In “Letter from Birmingham Jail” Martin Luther King Jr responds to his fellow clergymen criticism by arguing that all people have a moral obligation to fight injustice. He educates people about the racial tension and injustice in Birmingham to show that racism has influenced the rest of the United States. King also differentiates between just and unjust laws in order to justify civil disobedience and having to break the state’s law when necessary. He states that African Americans can no longer wait for justice but they must band together to argue for their rights in nonviolent way. King writes this letter to defend civil disobedience so that the racial injustice that African Americans have been enduring can come to an end.

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This quote exemplifies how blacks have been put down and beat upon for years without the ability to fight back. King detailing the constitutional and god given rights shows that blacks have been denied basic rights that our country has been structured around. The American ideology that “all men are created equal” has not applied to the black race, illustrating their denial of God-given and constitutional rights. The stinging darts of segregation is an example of blacks continuous enduring of

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Martin Luther King Junior wrote “Letter from Birmingham Jail” in 1963, when African Americans were fighting for their equality. The letter was written when Dr.King and hundreds of other protesters were under arrest for their non-violent demonstration in Birmingham, Alabama. He begins the letter by explaining to the white religious leaders why he is in Birmingham, one of his reasons was the prejudice that was being held in Birmingham. He also describes the torture African Americans go through in their everyday lives. The author argues that if the white people in Birmingham, Alabama don’t start treating the African Americans with proper respect, then it’s going to cause more problem and there will be other alternative actions.

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895 Words | 4 Pages

King writes to the eight clergymen who were critical of his protests and to the indifferent people of the United States. In the essay, he claims that he has done nothing wrong by protesting peacefully. In paragraph 11, King says “freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” He is saying that freedom is something they have to fight for because the authorities will not give it to them. He is directing this statement at the clergymen while reaching the apathetic people of the United States.

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King believed that if he could just go to Birmingham, and protest non-violently, that he could make a difference. On April 16, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. was imprisoned, in Birmingham, for protesting the civil rights of Black Americans. While in jail, he began writing a letter addressing the clergymen. His main audience in writing this letter was to the eight clergymen who criticized his actions and also the majority of the population as well. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail”, argues that injustice

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866 Words | 4 Pages

Civil rights leader and social activist Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a world renown correspondence, Letter From Birmingham Jail, in April of 1963, during a time when segregation was at it’s peak in the South. When King was making his mark in American history, the United States was experiencing great social unrest due to the injustice towards their colored citizens, which would lead to social rights rallies and unnecessary violence. In response to King’s peaceful protesting, the white community viewed “[his] nonviolent efforts as those of an extremist,” and subsequently imprisoned the pastor (para 27). King specifically wrote to the white clergymen who had earlier addressed a letter to him as to why he was apprehended, in which they argued that his actions were untimely and unconstitutional. In response, King emphasized that justice is never timely, and the refusal to acknowledge equal rights was inhumane and regressive.

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524 Words | 3 Pages

My Personal Response to the Letter from Birmingham Jail A letter excoriating Dr. King and praising the city’s prejudiced police force was issued by a group of Clergymen. While currently in jail at Birmingham as a victim of racism King addresses everybody with intend to bring injustice and aim to stop it for the good of all mankind. Dr. King wrote “Letter from Birmingham Jail” a focus on ethic discrimination as a response to follow clergy men. Dr. King compared Socrates as an important thinker which he created tension to inspire mankind to grow with this current tension that everybody is facing but, encourages nonviolence.

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251 Words | 2 Pages

In “Letter from Birmingham Jail” Martin Luther King defends the protestors’ thirst for justice by demonstrating the unjust society they live in. Over fifty years after the letter was written, it is still read today. Often times it gives people a sense of identity. However this letter gives me more than an identity. This letter gives me reason and motivation to always fight for a just society.

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465 Words | 2 Pages

This quote seems conflictive that citizens of a country themselves feel they are exiled by their homeland. If this quote is interpret in another way, it seems that King is warning African Americans that they should stand for their civil rights from now. King applied a good rhetorical technique to persuade followers of his ideology to join the war with

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829 Words | 4 Pages

Injustices in Birmingham While sitting in the Birmingham jail in 1963, Martin Luther King Jr., writes a powerful and emotional letter to the clergymen of Birmingham. In his letter, he responds to the harsh criticism and injustices he received for simply protesting peacefully without a permit. King states in his letter, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

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