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Segregation in the united states essay
Segregation in the united states essay
Segregation and the effects it had on Negros
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In the year of 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested on and placed in jail. While there, he wrote a six page letter to the clergymen of Birmingham on why he had a right to be there protesting. In order to persuade them, he used ethos, pathos, and logos in his writing. King’s letter not achieved his original goal in proving his right to protest, but the letter now provides an example to today’s generation on how to peacefully protest the problems that are faced today.
Through the use of his letter, he is able to tell the general public of why the stakes justify the actions he takes, and why it is important for the acceptance of his plan as more turmoil could be caused otherwise. Dr. King’s letter is an example of him taking action while knowing the stakes that if he fails, the whole Civil Rights movement could fail. It gives a clear understanding of the need to fight unjust laws through his statement that, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (King). He continues by saying that everyone has a “legal…moral responsibility” to uphold just laws but that people also have the right to “disobey unjust laws” (King). This statement immediately gives pretense to his actions of fighting for freedom through protest.
He then refers to his earlier statement about the apathy of the clergymen regarding the reason for the demonstrations, alluding to their anxiety over the protesters willingness to break the law. However, he brings up a dichotomy: the laxness and rigidity in which different laws are enforced. Namely, he sarcastically refers to the apprehensive enforcement of the 1954 Supreme Court decision outlawing segregation. Well, why are only some laws enforced? King answers this question by stating that there are two kinds of laws: just and unjust.
Martin Luther King discusses many philosophical principles in the “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” that relates with Aquinas discussion about law. Most of Martin Luther King’s philosophical ideas have to deal with natural law. According to Aquinas natural law is promulgated by reason and also rational participation in the eternal law. But in “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” we can see how human law is connected to natural law always.
What King is saying is that any injustices, even small ones will ruin the point of justice and will not allow for a just society. He believes all unjust laws must be broken and be made just to allow for a just
When using these examples and comparing it to the usage of the words legal and illegal during the rise of the civil rights movement, he is able to validify and persuade the readers to see the true meaning and usage of these words. As King defines the meaning of an unjust law to be, “any law that degrades human personality… all segregation statutes… because segregation distorts the soul and damages the personality,” (King 3) it legitimizes the argument of how the laws that lead to segregation cannot be deemed a law due to the fact that they push
I agree with him that unjust laws are giving a false idea of superiority and just laws as something that will uplift other personalities, he states, “any law that degrades human personality is unjust. All segregation statutes are unjust because segregation distorts the soul and damages the personality” (King 3). This is important because he wants to informs his brothers and sisters that the government shouldn’t just focus only on themselves but think of the communities around them. For instance, King states “all sorts of devious methods are used to prevent negroes from becoming registered voters,” which in some countries African-Americans make up most of the populations yet their rights are taken away. Through the use of logos; the appeal to logic, King mentions, “I have been arrested on a charge of parading without a permit..”
The Changes of Segregation “I have a dream” Martin Luther King Jr.. MLK jr. protested on how African Americans (blacks) were treated, for example they couldn’t go to certain place without getting arrested or beaten up. Without Martin, Kids wouldn’t be able to go to school, parents get jobs, or even go out in some public places without getting arrested! How would it feel if someone couldn’t go to school just because of what color skin he/she had?
MLK’s ultimate claim is that the church is to blame for these happenings and “the judgement of God is upon the Church as never before”(276). King stated how even the people who were in the church trying to fight for justice had been looked down upon and some had been kicked out of their own churches. King’s claims were passionately presented. He relentlessly provided evidence to prove his position on the issue of injustice and also showed ample amounts of examples to solve these problems.
King backs this up stating, “We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was "legal" and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was "illegal." ” This statement shows that something being legal or illegal doesn’t make it right or wrong. This can be applied to present day, in the news recently Gay marriage has been a huge debate, and due to a Supreme Court Decision gay marriage is now legal. According to King’s definition of just and unjust laws Gay Marriage would be a unjust law because it isn’t morally right, or follow the law of God.
In the eyes of Martin Luther King Jr., Justice within a society is achieved through the implementation of just laws. Furthermore, “just laws are regulations that have been created by man that follow the laws of God for man” (“Clergymen’s Letter”). Any law that does not correspond with the ideals of God and morality are considered to be unjust or a form of injustice. King identifies that injustice is clearly evident within the justice system. This injustice can truly be seen through the misconduct imposed toward the African American community.
No other person has played a bigger role in segregation than Martin Luther King Jr. He was born January 15th , 1929 and was assassinated April 4th, 1968. Dr. King wanted to end segregation by organizing peaceful demonstrations and rallies. Dr. king inspired many people around the world because he never gave up on his dream.
Equality For All Dr. Martin Luther King was a prestigious figure during his time in 1950-1960’s. Know about his fight for social equality for all people. He dealt a great effect towards how we all live our lives today. Throughout his time he was worldly known for speeches such as “I have a dream” and many others.
Manus for Oral Exam I am going to present the topic Human Rights. Human rights is for example the right to express your opinions, you have the right to education, you have the right to a private life and family life and you have the right to not be wrongly punished and mistreated by the state. Human right has been important for a long time and it still is. We have numerous people who have fought for human rights like Nelson Mandela in South Africa and Emmeline Pankhurst who’s a british feminist, however I am going to focus on The Civil Right movement and Martin Luther King Jr.
King never advocated breaking the laws that were just and fair to everyone. He only advocated breaking an unjust as long as they do it, as King says, “openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty.” (357) King talks about other ways that people broke unjust laws before him. He calls it civil disobedience. He gives the example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refusing Nebuchadnezzar.
