Martin Luther King Thesis

One of the Most Notable Men in History When you think about the civil rights, what is the first name that comes to mind? Of course, that name would be Martin Luther King Jr. He was one of the most notable men in history and was the driving force behind the Civil Rights Movement. He served as the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference which was based out of Atlanta, Georgia. During the 1960s, segregation was prevalent in Birmingham, Alabama. Non-violent demonstrations were organized and took place in Birmingham during the Easter holiday in 1963. This timeframe was specifically chosen because it drew large crowds into town, and the demonstrators felt this would be the most effective time to capture the attention of the merchants. King, along with man other demonstrators were arrested and placed in imprisoned after participating in this. On April 16, 1963, King wrote Letter from Birmingham Jail, to his fellow white clergymen explaining the rationale behind the demonstration by using the principles of logic, ethics, and emotion.

For example, his explanation of the steps involved in a non-violent campaign, which were: “collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self-purification; and direct action (Kirszner, Mandell 564)”. He wanted his fellow clergymen to understand the necessary steps were taken to ensure that peaceful negotiations would take place with the leaders of the city. Another example, was his reference to the Boston Tea Party which represented the epitome of civil disobedience. By explaining what was necessary to ensure a peaceful demonstration, and referencing one of the most monumental historical events in history which correlated to the event that took place in Birmingham, he effectively provided the rationale behind the need for the