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How Is Martin Luther King Justified In Letter From Birmingham Jail

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In April 1963 Martin Luther King was arrested and jailed in Birmingham, Alabama, for organizing demonstrations against unjust segregation laws. While in jail, he read a letter written by eight clergymen who denounced his demonstrations. King answered the clergymen in a letter now known as "Letters from Birmingham Jail." A study of American history reveals that King was justified in leading demonstrations against unjust segregation (Jim Crow) laws.

To begin, in April 12, 1966 several Alabama Clergymen wrote an open letter to Martin Luther King criticizing his actions during his demonstration in Birmingham, Alabama. The clergymen state that the demonstrations were unnecessary. They argued that they incite hatred and violence (although they were peaceful) and do not contribute to a resolution. They …show more content…

Google images supports the injustices of slavery by providing images showing how harsh and inhumane slaves were treated. On their journey to America, Africans were shoved into the bottom deck of the ship and chained with hundreds of other slaves for several weeks with little food and water. The images show workers of all ages working tirelessly picking cotton while constantly being watched by a white men carrying guns. Slaves were forced to live in old wooden shacks that were covered with dirt and trash. Slaves who misbehaved were inhumanely whipped and were left with vicious cuts.

In response to the Clergymen criticism, Dr. King wrote the "Letter from Birmingham Jail" to address their concerns. Dr. King distinguishes between just and unjust laws, insisting that a person has both a right and responsibility to break unjust laws. He defines just laws as those that uphold human dignity, and unjust laws as those that degrade human personality. For example, segregation is an unjust law because it makes a distinction between different groups of people which makes it morally

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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.

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Dr King wrote a direct response to the eight clergymen from Alabama in a confinement cell in Birmingham, Alabama which is now known as “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” It addresses the wrong-doings and injustices going on in Birmingham. King was arrested for being part of a peaceful protest against segregation that had not been approved to be marched in that area. King argues that publicly showing that people including him are against segregation is better than just negotiating and having the “Negro community” patiently wait around for society to move toward civil rights and that demanding social justice provokes individuals and groups to act out, regardless of how peaceful the method may be. Dr King explains why it is okay for him to be a part

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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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The clergymen commended the local media, law enforcers, and the community for the way in which they handled the demonstrations-with calm. However, in response to this claim, Martin Luther argues that he doubts the clergy would go praise the police if they had seen the police committing atrocities against Negroes. Colaiaco (1984)

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In 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. was sent to jail because of a peaceful protest, protesting treatments of blacks in Birmingham. Before the protest a court ordered that protests couldn’t be held in Birmingham. While being held in Birmingham, King wrote what came to be known as the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” Not even King himself could predict how much of an impact this letter would have on the Civil Rights Movement. In the letter kind defended Kings beliefs on Nonviolent Protests, King also counters the accusations of him breaking laws by categorizing segregation laws into just and unjust laws. King uses this principle to help persuade others to join him in his acts of civil disobedience.

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