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The different opinions about civil disobedience
The different opinions about civil disobedience
The different opinions about civil disobedience
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Dr. Martin Luther King was a well-known civil rights activist, and through his works, and actions he played an important part in building modern day America. His works include the famous I have a dream speech, March to Washington, and many more famous protests. A well known document written by King was the letter of Birmingham, written on April 16, 1963. The letter was a response to the clergyman who called King's actions "unwise and untimely." In the letter, King used rhetorical devices and appeals, to convey and develop his argument, that change was needed, and that his activities were, in fact, not unwise and untimely.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an amazing civil rights leader. In 1963, Dr. King and some other civil rights actives went down to Birmingham, Alabama to help in the fight to end inequality. During a nonviolent demonstration Dr. King and countless other protestors were arrested and sent to a Birmingham jail. While in prison Dr. King had time to think and he took this time to write to his fellow clergymen who critics the nonviolent demonstrations. The letter is entitle "Letter from a Birmingham Jail".
In the piece “Letter from Birmingham,” Martin Luther King Jr. is writing a personal response to eight clergymen who were questioning the movement taking in place in Birmingham and how it was being handled. The clergymen believed it should have been handled in the courts and King simply disagrees. King generally would not respond to people writing him, but with him being in jail and the questions being pondered by many, he felt it was needed to write them back about the injustice being done. King described and illustrated the struggles as a black man and a black woman during this significant time period and also wrote of his leadership roles during the civil rights movement.
King makes a claim of civil disobedience being a common factor in history. This claim can also be used to resist the claim of his actions being unwise and untimely because when Dr. King lists examples of people in history who advocated for what they believed in, it shows that change can take place at any time, even if it does not seem like the best decision. As Dr. King writes this, he makes sure to make use of logical reasoning to support his claim of civil disobedience being a persistent component throughout history. While reading this letter, Dr. King makes a point to reference historical figures who have all fought to keep their beliefs true to themselves. Going through this paragraph Dr. King lists multiple examples of historical figures who have all fought for civil disobedience such as "the refusal of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to obey the laws of Nebuchadnezzar" and "early Christians, who were willing to face hungry lions and the excruciating pain of chopping blocks rather than submit to certain unjust laws".
Letter from Birmingham Jail Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the most important men in history. He is the spear head of the equal right movement. His goals were to have equal right between all people no matter what you skin color is. King was imprisoned in a Birmingham jail, the reason why, he was a part of a non-violent campaign. King wrote "letter from Birmingham Jail" for eight white religious leaders.
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.
Letter from Birmingham Jail Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Baptist minister and social activist, who led the civil right movement in the United Stated throughout the mid 50’s until his assassination. Dr. King was arrested for participating in some sort of demonstration against racism and unjustified segregation. King’s “Letter from Birmingham city jail” purpose is to basically promote responsible and efficient leadership without racism and injustice. Throughout his letter, Dr. King wanted to illustrate the bias way of how the African American community was treated especially in the South.
After a prolonged wait for their civil rights, King had decided that there was no more time to waste and that it was time for “nonviolent direct action” (380). King believed that “justice too long delayed is justice denied,” what this meant is that when something has been put aside so long, it is forgotten (381).King then wrote, “When you have seen hate-filled policemen curse, kick, and even kill your black brothers and sisters... then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait” (381-82). How could they continue waiting for change when there were people being mistreated and killed? People being killed for the simple fact that they wanted equal rights.
Moreover, King uses these three rhetorical elements to express the treatment African Americans faced, the unjust laws by using examples back in history to show that these laws were not right at all, and his reason as to why he is in Birmingham due to the racial inequality whites have shown towards negroes. King main idea of his letter is “Injustice anywhere will be a threat to justice everywhere.” (King 1) Therefore, King is using this letter as a way of saying we have to protest racism and injustice, but we cannot do it violently because then that will be considered unjust too. Martin Luther King uses a tone of righteousness to talk about the right versus the wrong and explaining why what he is doing is correct.
Notoriety in the Charles Manson Trials In many cases and trials of the world, notoriety, or being famous from a bad quality or deed, affects many outcomes and verdicts. As more media and newsmen become familiar with famous cases, their articles are what capture the public’s attention, and what the public’s opinions of the trial are based on. This popularity of a trial can even help determine the future of the person that is accused of the crime.
He states that African Americans did not experience the same rights of citizenship as other Americans. King also explains why African Americans had to protest. He said that the only way to spur change was to bring attention to it. Protesting does this and only then, will people see that change is needed.
In 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. protested the racial segregation in Birmingham and got arrested. While he was in jail he read a newspaper and 8 white clergymen stated their opinion of him. That inspired his Letter From Birmingham Jail. After he got out he continued to protest and he wrote his I Have a Dream Speech. He spoke in front of about 10,000 people in Washington DC.
By this definition, King believes that the laws passed or upheld by the government were not just because they did not follow the natural law of God. He continues and says “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (King, page 1). Any law that separated or placed African Americans below the rest of society was unjust, and therefore Martin Luther King Jr. believed it was his duty to fight against this. It was especially important to begin fighting as soon as possible, in hopes to keep the rest of society safe from this
The Civil Rights Movement was a big thing for the United states and we as Americans will always remember Martin Luther King Jr. for helping lead the people and inspire change and bring hope. The speech “ I Have a Dream” by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an important gathering of people at the Lincoln Memorial. A huge crowd gathered to listen to his powerful speech which helped to inspire change. Martin Luther King also wrote a letter to eight white clergymen named “Letter From Birmingham Jail” the letter was written in in his jail cell which he was in for marching and protests. In both of these texts Dr. King used pathos and logos to inspire change and reach out to the people during the civil rights movements.
Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the most well-known leaders of the civil rights movement. He was an amazing man and inspired many people. His most popular speech is his "I have a Dream " speech. He also wrote a letter while inside the Birmingham Jail when he was arrested for his nonviolent protest against segregation. When reading "Letter from Birmingham Jail" one may notice that Martin Luther King Jr. used many instances of logos, ethos, pathos, and even kairos.
