Summary Of Letter From Birmingham Jail By Martin Luther King

Freedom Writer
An Analysis of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Moving Letter
On April 12, 1963, a group of clergymen from Alabama released the “PUBLIC STATEMENT BY EIGHT ALABAMA CLERGYMEN” in which they criticized the actions of the Civil Rights Movement, asking for the oppressed African American community to wait with patience for their justice to arrive. In response to this publication, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a lengthy letter while incarcerated known as “LETTER FROM BIRMINGHAM JAIL”, on April 16, 1963. Dr. King uses this letter to respond to the clergymen, and convey his side of the situation, as well as to justify the actions of those involved with the movement. Dr. King’s letter means to sway the views of the clergymen by explicitly

King adds some context as to why he is in Birmingham. He states that he “was invited” to Birmingham due to the many organizations that he is involved with, but first and foremost “because injustice is [in Birmingham]”. This immediately sets up and validates not only his purpose in being there, but also to the movement itself. Dr. King then includes an allusion in which he compares himself, and those involved in the movement, to the Apostle Paul, and others who spread “the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the Greco-Roman world”. By including this allusion, Dr. King strengthens his ethos and appeals to the religious background of the clergymen at the same time. He also notes a common belief that he shares with the clergymen, setting them equal to each

King notices many flaws and inconsistencies within the clergymen’s article and attempts to set things straight. He points out their contradicting views on how the movement is treating the public compared to how the public is treating the movement, stressing their goal of “peaceful protests” versus the police brutality and social humiliation received in response. King also lists examples of the promises that have been broken by the public and the government, which furthers his ethos. One of which being the promise of storeowners “to remove [their] stores humiliating racial signs”, which were disrespectfully put back up soon after being taken down. King goes on to explain how they have started “a series of workshops on nonviolence”, along with peaceful protests and sit-ins, which exemplifies their continued dedication to keep the movement free of tumult on their side. King justifies these actions with an allusion to Socrates, explaining that they are necessary “to create the kind of tension in society that will help men rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism”. By assuming that the men will know and understand this allusion, he is in a sense complimenting them while further establishing his own