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Letter From Birmingham Jail By Martin Luther King Jr.

799 Words4 Pages

In the early 1960s, Birmingham was one of the most racially divided cities in the United States that was enforced by law and culture. Black citizens faced legal and economic disparities, and violent retribution when they attempted to draw attention to their problems. That was a cause of the Birmingham campaign led by Martin Luther King, Jr. It was a nonviolent direct action organized by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) to bring attention to the integration efforts of African Americans in Alabama. Born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1929, Martin Luther went on to become one of Western history’s most significant figures. At first, he earned a B.A. in Sociology and Bachelor of Divinity from Crozer Theological Seminary, became a pastor …show more content…

Thus, it reflected many of his central philosophies such as nonviolence, civil disobedience, justice and human dignity. Whereas, I Have a Dream expressed his dreams of freedom and equality arising from a land of slavery and hatred. Also, the speech discussed the gap between the American dream and reality, and stated that all men, including black men, should be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of …show more content…

Firstly, he started his letter by addressing to “My Dear Fellow Clergymen” (King 812) to clarify that he had read the open letter criticizing his actions published by white clergymen in the newspaper. He believed these men were “of genuine good will” (King 813) so their criticisms deserve an answer. By saying that, King also declared his credibility as well as criticized his target audience without alienating himself from it. Secondly, he proved that he was not the “outsiders coming in” because he was the president of the SCLC which was based in Atlanta, but operated throughout the South with 85 affiliate organizations. Thus, he was in Birmingham on behalf of the SCLC because he was invited to “engage in a nonviolent direct-action program” (King 813) where racial issues grew serious. Moreover, King also explained that he was in Birmingham because “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (King 183) by providing a moral reason that he compelled to work for justice anywhere that injustice in being

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4). He devoted his time to serve as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to help ending the unequal treatment of people based on race. In the article, “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” King pointed out that he was in Birmingham, Alabama because here is the place filled with injustice and racial discrimination. He devoted himself to helping black people and others who suffered from unequal treatment to cease racial inequality by nonviolent action, but as time flies by, the result was disappointed, and the progress was very slow. He then encouraged his fellow to take the next action, direct action, since King though that “Nonviolent tension is necessary for growth,” (para. 10) and he was ready to take account for outcome he had

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Summary/Assessment: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), which is an organization operating in every Southern state with its headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. He came to Birmingham, Alabama because injustice lies there and helped protest about it in a nonviolent demonstration against racial discrimination. The eight clergymen of the South did not approve of these demonstrations happening which caused Dr. King to be confined in Birmingham Jail cell, writing a letter to them men explaining on why he was in Birmingham and what his reasons were for these protests. He begins to talk about and explain the four basic steps that needed to be followed for any nonviolent campaign. He also gives the audience a better understanding by giving a visual glimpse of what the black community had to endure.

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In his “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King, Jr. is responding to criticism of the peaceful protests and sit-in’s that were taking place in Birmingham, which led to his being arrested and the reason that he was in jail. He first responds to the accusation of being an “outsider” by setting the stage for his being in Birmingham due to being invited because of his ties to the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights organization and due to the fact that he is president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Next, Martin Luther King expands on his moral beliefs that there is “injustice” in the way that Birmingham is “the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States”.

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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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1. King addresses “The Clergyman” in his response letter from a Birmingham jail in attempts to refute and further explain his position and reason for his actions. In response to their claims that his methods we “unwise and untimely” (King 800) he begins with a layout of why he feels that this letter and distinction is important and why he has come to Birmingham. It is in no uncertain terms a brief history of why and how he became involved in the activities if Birmingham. King argues, “Injustice everywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” (King 800) laying the ground work and rationale for his involvement and actions.

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Martin Luther King Jr' "Letter from Birmingham Jail" was written after he was arrested for exercising his constitutional rights while peacefully protesting in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963. This Letter was written while Dr. King was in jail in one of the most segregated cities in America at the time. Birmingham was home to one of the most violent chapter of the KKK, their governor at the time, George Wallace, despised the idea of desegregation, and the law enforcement encourage the use of blunt force and brutality on African Americans protesters. In the letter Dr. King states that he was brought to Birmingham, along with other members of SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference) to engage in a nonviolent direct action and take Murray 2 time to talk with leaders of Birmingham's economic community. He

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There is but one race, and that is the human race.” In 500 words or less define what this quote means, describe how it epitomizes Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s vision, and explain how you personally incorporate these ideals into your everyday life.” “There is but one race, and that is the human race” This implies that all people should be treated the same no matter what color you are. King didn’t believe that humans were classified into groups based on physical traits, social groups, genetics etc. His vision shows that he wanted all of us to feel like we mattered.

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When responding to the eight white clergymen, he states, “Seldom do I pause to answer criticism of my work and ideas,” giving the reader the notion that a plethora of criticism must come across his desk. But, he has chosen to write a response and explain himself simply because King feels they are “men of genuine good will” and their criticism is “sincerely set forth.” After the introduction of his letter, he feels he must next explain his location at the time: Birmingham Jail. “I am in Birmingham because injustice is here,” says King. This quote lets the reader know there is a reason behind King’s arrest, a very good reason, too.

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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.

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“Letter from Jail” On April 16, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a letter to the eight clergymen while he was incarcerated. Dr. King wrote this letter to address one of the biggest issues in Birmingham, Alabama and other areas within the United States. The “Letter from Birmingham Jail” discussed the great injustices that were happening during that time towards the black community. Dr. King wanted everyone to have the same equal rights as the white community, he also went into further details about the struggles that African Americans were going through for so many years, which he felt like it could change. Martin Luther King Jr’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, expressed his beliefs and his actions about the Human Rights Movement.

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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

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The “Letter from Birmingham Jail” was written by the African American hero Dr. Martin Luther King in Birmingham back in 1963, addressing the issues that the African Americans faced back in that time. Dr. King responded to criticism that was made by clergymen about calling Dr. King activities as “Unwise and Untimely”. Dr. King don’t usually respond to criticism like that but he wanted to give a good answer to these men in a part of his letter from” Birmingham Jail”. They described Dr. King as an outsider who is only there to cause trouble which Dr. Martin Luther King backs their criticisms that he was the President of Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) . As he was invented by SCLC to “Engage in a nonviolent direct-action program” and

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He writes this letter to defend his organization and peaceful protesting, yet also identifies the racial injustices he, and many other citizens received. King’s writing was very effective in accomplishing his goal to get his point across that segregation is a very serious thing. King hopes that his powerful and emotional message in his letter will impact how the clergymen, the whites, and many others approach and take action towards segregation. He hopes that they will see how terrible inequality truly is and make the American Society have less hate and more

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