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Prejudice And Racism In Dear Martin By Nic Stone

771 Words4 Pages

In the novel Dear Martin by Nic Stone, we learn about 16-year old Justyce McAllister, a black teen attending Braselton Prep Academy. His recent run in with the police left him on the ground in handcuffs, while his drunk ex- Melo - was stumbling around on the sidewalk next to him. Justyce was trying to help her, but being black in a nice neighborhood, he was immediately profiled by the police and followed to where he met up with Melo. Assuming he was trying to hurt her, Officer Castillo pointed his gun at Justyce and cuffed him. Justyce was let go after calling his best friend's parents, both lawyers, who ultimately got Castillo to free Justyce. Back in his dorm, Justyce is considering what happened and what could've happened. He gets the idea to start writing letters to Dr Martin Luther King Jr., telling him about his experience, and how he wants to try to help. Justyce develops a new goal- to be more like Martin. Justyce wants to respond to racism without violence, call …show more content…

I don't wanna walk around all pissed off and looking for problems, but I know I can't continue to pretend nothings wrong. Yeah. There are no more ‘colored’ water fountains, and it's supposed to be illegal to discriminate, but if I can be forced to sit on the ground in too-tight cuffs when I've done nothing wrong it's clear there's an issue. That things aren't as equal as folks say they are” (13). Even though Justyce was dressed in nice clothing and not causing a disturbance, a cop followed him, saw him helping Melo, and assumed he was dangerous or taking advantage of Melo. Just because he was black and walking in a nice neighborhood. This event is what inspired Justyce to start writing to Martin, and shows how Justyces bad experience with the police made him realize the severity of discrimination and that racism is still very prevalent in the world

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What if Martin was a white kid that had gone out to buy himself a snack, just like Martin did, and came out with his hoody on his head, would he also be suspicious? This is one example of a broader racial issue that exists today in the US. Many black people live under the stereotype of being criminals or drug dealers. I’ve heard several people, sadly and unfortunately, refer to them as that. Something that was surprising for me when I first moved to the US.

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Dr. King also included definitions and examples of unjust and just laws, and how they are not right. He included an example of these “laws” by talking about the things Adolf Hitler did was allowed but supposedly helping someone was not allowed. He writes and uses the letter to show the white Americans that are unaware of what is happening around them. Even, though Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is best remembered for his powerful voice and pathos in this letter is a thoughtful logical argument. Rhetorical Situations: Writer:

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In Martin Luther King JR. “ Letter From Birmingham Jail” he responds to the criticism given to his activities. He addresses the criticism with a strong and powerful tone as well as using logos to explain why what he is doing is for the better of people while he also implements pathos to give the reader an inside view of the feelings of the people that were segregated. Martin Luther King JR. ’s saw his actions as just and not unwise.

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In MLK’s famous letter from Birmingham Jail and “I Have a Dream”, he uses different types of persuasive arguments such as appealing logic as well as charging his language to affect people’s emotions. Although Dr. King uses mostly pathos in the letter from Birmingham Jail, he still uses facts and evidence to support his claims. By appealing to both the logical and emotional side of people Dr. King provides good reasons to join the fight for African American rights and the end to segregation. Despite using mostly charged language aimed at people who play more the moral side of life than the people who play more to the logical side of life, Dr. King still states strong evidence about the injustices African Americans face daily.

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333 Words | 2 Pages

In the “Letter From Birmingham Jail” (1963) Martin Luther King Jr.,revered leader of the Civil Rights Movement, argues for the urgency of changing segregation laws. He supports his argument through the uses of fluent anaphora, weighty allusion, and urging imagery. His purpose is to make known the reality of a day in the life of Negro in order to compel the recipient’s to think “What if?” Dr. King addresses the white clergymen with a respectful and dignified tone although his circumstances. ‘Wait’ another word for never to the Negro.

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655 Words | 3 Pages

He then addresses the clergymen criticism that the SCLC’s actions are “untimely” and begins an extended claim that “privileged groups” will always oppose any threats. Dr. King insists that black people have waited long enough for justice. Dr. King then proceeds to describe different abuses his people have suffered in the past and in his present day. Amongst these abuses, he shares a personal one where he has to explain to his young daughter why she cannot go to the “public amusement park” because of the color of her skin. Dr. King then acknowledges that the clergymen show anxiety over the black man’s “willingness to break laws.”

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He grew up having black friends, but still had a sense of difference between whites and blacks. After hearing Travon Martin’s name repeatedly, he decided to look up the incident and that is when the hate poured out of him with every ounce of passion inside him. He believed that blacks look through a “lens”, where all they see is people using their race against them.

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He apologises to his audience by saying, “I’m afraid it is much too long to take your precious time. I can assure you that it would have been much shorter if I had been writing from a comfortable desk, but what else can one do when he is alone in a narrow jail cell, other than write long letters, think long thoughts and pray long prayers?” This is a response to his current situation that brings the reader back to the reality of why this letter is being written in the first place; injustice. After reading such a beautifully crafted piece of literature that worked to shed light onto the harsh reality African Americans face, it’s easy to forget that King was even in jail at the time. However, this short comment helps the reader realize that even the most educated, compassionate and determined people are still subject to the harsh injustices of

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After establishing creditability, King shifts to explaining the grievances of African American through pathos. He gives examples of personal experience to bring forth the real truth of racism in Birmingham. He pushes for acceptance, oppression, and change for African Americans. If he did not push for those things, racism will still be an unsolved problem today. King stated, “Negroes have experienced grossly unjust treatment in the courts”.(IN TEXT CITATION)

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When speaking of the unjust happening, he expresses, “We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating: ‘For Whites Only’”. (pg 2) King brings to light the extent of racism they experience and uses children to touch people in a different way. This treatment towards African Americans goes beyond what is shown. Additionally, when speaking of life as a black individual, King states, “We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highway.” (pg2)

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1510 Words | 7 Pages

During that time, black individuals compromised 75% of bus riders. The boycotting of the bus system was a clear example of how economics can have a direct impact within a movement. King discusses within his letter how this protest led to him, “suddenly [being] catapulted into the leadership”. Through the constant perseverance of this boycott the city of Montgomery was able to take its first step toward the ending of segregation within busses. Next by providing the perspective of a parent explaining racism to their child for the first-time king really hit’s a sharp tone of melancholy within his letter.

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952 Words | 4 Pages

Let us hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear-drenched communities, and in some not to distant tomorrow the radiant stars of…brotherhood will shine…with all scintillating beauty”. While the other clergymen desire to put down MLK and show him all that he does wrong, he comes back at them with love and unity, not to shame them, but to show them the truth and be an example. Dr. King appeals to emotions in his letter a great deal to convey to the clergymen how wrongly they are viewing the conflict. He lays it out for them in a way such that he can see how he and his family/ancestors is being treated and has been treated for a number of

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421 Words | 2 Pages

In Just Mercy, Bryan Stevenson retells powerful stories to highlight how minorities and juveniles within the criminal justice system are often unheard. Stevenson addresses Walter McMilliam’s case to prove that he was ignored by the police and others because he was an African American accused for interracial romance with a white women and murder. During the 1800’s, racial discrimination was extremely harsh onto black people which led their community to be targeted by the criminal justice system. The criminal justice system incarcerates African Americans but no other races which proves that they’re avoiding their safety and rights.

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Martin Luther King Jr. was a strong leader in the Civil Rights movement, the son and grandson of a minister, and one heck of a letter writer. As he sits in a cell of Birmingham Jail in 1963, he responds to criticism from eight white clergymen. Though this letter was intended for the judgemental and condescending men of high faith, his response touched the hearts and minds of the entire U.S. population, then, and for years to come. In his tear-jerking, mind-opening letter, King manages to completely discredit every claim made by the clergymen while keeping a polite and formal tone. Metaphors, allusions, and rhetorical questions are used in the most skillful way to support his argument and ultimately convince his audience of the credibility behind his emotional, yet factual, claims.

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This chapter focuses on the depiction of prejudice, oppression and brutality in the novel under study. By analyzing the content of Black Boy we come to know about the different types of hardships and discrimination as experienced by the Richard Wright. 3.1 POVERTY AND HUNGER The text throws light on the neediness and the starvation as experienced by the black characters that are monetarily disempowered by the afflictions of racial segregation. The black population is deprived the right for equivalent work prospects.

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