Summary Of Letter From Birmingham Jail

A Letter from Birmingham Jail is written after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr is arrested and incarcerated in downtown Birmingham. Initially, he writes the text of his letter in the margins newspaper and later on paper in which his attorney provides. Dr. King is responding to criticisms demonstrated by eight prominent white clergy man. Through out history, this letter has been found to be of great importance. A Letter from Birmingham Jail verbalizes King’s feelings toward the unjust events and criticisms of eight clergymen. The letter serves as an example of a well-written argument of injustice on African Americans. Most importantly, this letter explains current events in Birmingham in 1963, as well as in the rest of America. And lastly, the

King goes on to address the criticism that the negro community should be more patient and wait for society to move gradually toward civil rights. Dr. King points out, “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. 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." It has been a tranquilizing thalidomide, relieving the emotional stress for a moment, only to give birth to an ill-formed infant of frustration.” In this section of his letter, Dr. King outlines a litany of detailed abuses on the African Americans. He tells of how we have waited for three hundred and forty years for our “God given and constitutional rights”. He talks about the vicious mob lynching and police brutality. He talks about racism, poverty in an affluent society, why blacks could not use public facilities, and explaining all of this injustice to their children. Dr. King’s delivery in handling the criticism of waiting was diplomatic, straightforward, and to the point. Although he is accustomed to preaching, his emotions in the letter suggests that he was fighting a legal battle for future justice everywhere, fate for mankind and America. Dr. King concludes with this argument in saying, “There comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over and men are no longer willing to be plunged into an abyss of injustice where they experience the bleakness of corroding despair. I hope, sirs, you can understand our legitimate and unavoidable