Martin Luther King's Religion And His Church To Justify The Civil Rights Movement

Post War Oppression and Progress
After WWII, many African Americans felt that many of the freedoms they had fought for had not been extended into the US. The African American community continued to struggle through this period in an attempt to be seen as equal in society. However they faced constant oppression and racism, both in their communities and by the government. Jim Crow laws and segregation continued to separate them from the rest of society. In August of 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. was put into prison after his involvement in a peaceful demonstration against segregation. While in prison, he decided to write a letter to respond to the criticism a group of 8 white religious leaders in the South had made. He wrote about the importance

specifically uses religion and his church to justify the Civil rights movement. The divine law in his religion states that everyone should be equal, and the law should treat people as such. However the laws in his society restricted both him and his community, and constantly placed them below others. He states on page 3 “A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law” (King, page 3). 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

action were poorly timed, King argued that it was his duty to fight against injustice as soon as he could.His opponents claimed that there was a better way to take action against segregation, such as negotiation or time, however Martin Luther King, Jr. claims that his actions “could be delayed no longer” (King, page 2). He explains his actions by stating “Frankly, I have never yet engaged in a direct-action movement that was "well timed" according to the timetable of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation. For years now I have heard the word ‘wait.’ It rings in the ear of every Negro with a piercing familiarity. This ‘wait’ has almost always meant ‘never’” (King, page 2). After waiting so long for what was seen as “the right time” in other people's eyes, King finally realized that society could make no progress this way. After waiting for so long, he felt that taking direct action, as soon as possible, was the only choice. Even if it annoyed or frustrated other people, it was the only way to eradicate segregation and finally have the same rights as