Summary Of Letter From Birmingham Jail

Why African Americans can no longer “wait” “Letter from Birmingham Jail” written by Dr. Martin L. King, Jr is a response to the eight white clergymen who wrote him a letter criticizing him, his movement, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Dr. King first addresses why he came to Birmingham. Though King does not usually respond to criticism, he responds to the men because he believes they are “of genuine good will.” Martin Luther King, Jr. had been arrested and imprisoned in Birmingham in 1963 regarding his protest activities. Birmingham at the time was a segregated city, known for the mistreatment of African Americans. In the letter, Dr. King defended the necessity of using protests and demonstrations

Kings “letter,” you have to understand who Dr. King is addressing. The audience he is addressing is not only the clergymen the audience is universal. It seems obvious to say that “Letter from Birmingham Jail” concerns itself with race. While Dr. King says as fact that all races are equal, he draws attention to the separation between races. Instead, what he preaches is connection between all humans, regardless of race. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”. This phrase, one of the letter’s most famous, serves several purposes, it justifies why Dr. King and the SCLC have come to Birmingham0222220..li7]//’’; because they feel connected to and responsible for everyone, they had to come to a place that was exhibiting injustice. Throughout the work, he justifies breaking laws if they are unjust, embracing extremism. Because Dr. King establishes his credibility early on, he has justifications for those claims. If, injustice anywhere threatens justice everywhere, then it follows that a man interested in justice must stop it, not just for his community, but for the good of all

They cannot wait around while they watch their black brother and sisters beaten, lynched, and killed by vicious mobs and even people set in place to protect them from these very heinous acts. MLK is absolutely right that we can no longer wait. The life of African Americans most likely would have got worse instead of better if African Americans had waited. The worse thing African Americans can do is wait and accept the injustices the were facing as a part of life. If they want justice, they have to go out and take it. Because they we be waiting around for the rest of their lives. In addition, MLK Jr. uses a quotes from the Declaration of Independence. He writes, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” This shows to the clergymen that racial injustices does not follow the basic premise which this country was founded on. And that justice and equality was promised to every American and if these promises are not being fulfilled then that should be the main goal of all Americans black and white. Kings wants white Americans to put themselves in the shoes of African Americans. In hopes that they will empathize with African