ipl-logo

Martin Luther King Jr And Letter From Birmingham Jail

1397 Words6 Pages

It is hard to imagine what America would be like without its freedom fighting leaders. There is no denying that the United States would not be what it is today without Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Their different approach on racism can be seen through their writing. In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested in Birmingham Alabama and taken into custody for leading a peaceful anti-segregation march without a permit. This arrest inspired King to write a call for unity titled, “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” This letter explains the sorrows African American people go through and America's injustices. Martin Luther King Jr. describes his nonviolent revolution and the change all Americans needs to accept to gain equality. In 1964, Malcolm X wrote …show more content…

He explains the hopes of his movement, as well as the ignorance of the people keeping racism unresolved. His speaks in depth of the lack of human rights, the fraudulent American government, and the unification of African Americans. Both Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X’s childhood gives insight on their approach to freedom fighting as well as their similar message of uniting Americans; with their differences in conveying their message their contrasting legacy is shown through their writings. One’s upbringing has a large effect on their future. From an early age, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X’s life were very unalike. Martin Luther King Jr. grew up in a secure family, with two loving parents, and two siblings. He found inspiration in his father, who fought against racial prejudice. King attended a public high school and was very intelligent able to graduate early to enroll at Morehouse College at the age of 15. Martin Luther King Jr. followed in his grandfather's footsteps and became a Baptist Minister. He went on to marry Coretta Scott and had four children with her. Martin Luther King Jr.’s first leadership role in a civil rights

Show More
Related
895 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More
1071 Words | 5 Pages

During, the fight for civil rights in the late 1950s and 1960s two men stood up to lead the black community to fight for their rights and their equality. In the 1960’s it was a hard time for black Americans to consider themselves as equals due to the laws in the United States of America. The Civil War had stopped slavery but hadn’t stopped discrimination towards blacks. To help their fellow African Americans, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. both wanted to find a way that could and a way that should help all African Americans receive equality in a world where they weren’t wanted.

Read More
1002 Words | 5 Pages

On April 12, 1963, eight clergymen wrote an open letter, “A Call for Unity”. In this published letter, the clergymen expressed their strong disapproval of the civil rights demonstrations taking place in Birmingham, Alabama. That same day, civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested for protesting without a permit. In his short eleven-day jail sentence, Dr. King directly responded to the clergymen with a letter of his own. In his letter, Dr. King informed his readers about the protests in Birmingham.

Read More
359 Words | 2 Pages

Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Baptist minister and activist who was a leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. Martin Luther King Jr. graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta and also received his a Ph. D. in technology from Boston University. King resigned from his pastor position at a church in Alabama and moved back to Atlanta to lead the activities of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. From 1960 to Kings last days of life him and his father would pastor together at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a letter titled “Letter From Birmingham Jail” in April 1963 as a response to a “published statement by eight fellow clergymen from Alabama was composed under somewhat constricting

Read More
971 Words | 4 Pages

This book brings together some of the best primary sources on Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X that relate to what I’ve learned in history class. Through their writings and speeches, I appreciate the roles they played in the freedom crusade of the 1950s and 1960s. It is a good summary of its essential teachings that give me insight into their individual styles and personalities. The book is not one that tries to force ideas or a religion on the reader but instead offers new insight on two of these most important civil rights leaders of the century. It is a valuable effort that helps me both within and beyond the classroom, which focuses on the crucial years in the lives of quintessentially human

Read More
1142 Words | 5 Pages

In Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail,” he uses periodic sentences, syntax, diction, and allusions to write about his beliefs about the immense struggles African Americans experienced to gain their rights, how he views just and unjust laws, the many different influences have in their lives, and the cruel nature of the citizens, which are still prevalent today. First of all, African Americans went through immense struggles to get the rights they have today. African Americans watched their family members be innocently killed, experienced multiple cruel acts of segregation, and often felt strong resentment to the White population. For instance, Dr. King uses a periodic sentence and imagery to express the immense struggles African Americans endured to gain the

Read More
1302 Words | 6 Pages

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.

Read More
957 Words | 4 Pages

“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.

Read More
726 Words | 3 Pages

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

Read More
1926 Words | 8 Pages

The Civil Rights Movement in the United States is synonymous with two key figures. Both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. played roles of their own in progressing their race forward in 1950s America. While they both took very different routes and had competing ideologies in how the African American race would move forward they were equally important. When studying key activists it is important to understand their motivations, where they came from, and what they had hoped to achieve. Key speeches given by both of the highly talented protagonists of this essay are an important medium from which to gather this information.

Read More
1974 Words | 8 Pages

Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were two influential men who served as important figures for the Civil Rights Movement. The two men came from diverse backgrounds and had contrasting views in life about religion and African American’s stance in society. Malcolm X was born in Nebraska and had great amounts of exposure to racism. Martin Luther King was born in an educated family in Atlanta, where he experienced racism, but to a lower extreme than Malcolm X. Although they passed away long time ago, they continue to live on today in a world independent of segregation. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X used opposing principles to achieve equality for blacks; King utilized integration of both races and nonviolence as opposed to Malcolm X who separated the same races and employed non violence so as to achieve the same goal.

Read More
1245 Words | 5 Pages

The remarkable “Letter from Birmingham Jail” was written in 1963 by the activist of Civil Right Movement, Martin Luther King. It was a response to the criticism made to him by eight clergymen and at the same time a defense for the means which he and his followers had chosen to fight against racism. It has had a huge impact on the history of United States of America and still to this day, 54 years after it was written, society can absorb valuable lessons from it. Human rights are a serious issue, but even in modern times there exists a space for conflict due to the neglect of their importance, an event encountered in Albania. Though justice and injustice are abstract terms, it would be really meaningful for everyone to try to understand them

Read More
1335 Words | 6 Pages

Robert Yew Professor Jackson ENGL 101 November 29, 2014 Often times in history, memorable pieces of literature are brought about from the important cultural movements of a specific era. Timeless classics come in the form of books, letters, and news articles as a result of drastic social issues that people express through their creative work. New inspiring philosophical ideas often come about in these times of cultural unrest. These cultural movements a lot of times are brought about by the uprising of a minority group who show their discontent with political and social injustice through writing.

Read More
1848 Words | 8 Pages

Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the most influential leaders of his time and played a crucial role in the African-American Civil Rights movement. Luther was a charismatic leader who took a firm stand against the oppressive and racist regime of the United States (US), devoting much of his life towards uniting the segregated African-American community of the US. His efforts to consolidate and harmonise the US into one country for all is reflected in many of his writings and speeches spanning his career. As a leader of his people, King took the stand to take radical measures to overcome the false promises of the sovereign government that had been addressing the issues of racial segregation through unimplemented transparent laws that did nothing to change the grim realities of the society. Hence, King’s works always had the recurring theme of the unity and strength of combined willpower.

Read More
1690 Words | 7 Pages

He grew up with a deeply rooted determination to obtain equal rights for all American citizens. He led many protests and gave extremely motivating speeches that eventually made him the most known Civil Rights leader. “Martin Luther King Jr. emerged as the head of a movement for justice and equality that branched out from Montgomery and swept through the south” (ramsees7). This established the success in his accomplishments within the marches

Read More

More about Martin Luther King Jr And Letter From Birmingham Jail

Related Topics

Open Document