Summary Of Letter From Birmingham Jail

In “Letter from Birmingham Jail” Martin Luther King responds to the clergymen’s critics of his actions by justifying why action is needed. King describes the long-awaited freedom and equality the black community has been waiting for. He discusses about time being neutral, and how it can be used constructively or destructively. King explains that action needs to be taken, and used constructively in order for things to change. Just like King, Terry Tempest Williams, in her own ways uses time constructively to take action for her family and the rest of the victims of the atomic bomb testings. Because time is neutral, waiting and not taking action will not change anything. People are held accountable for what they do with time. In order for change to occur, action needs to be taken. In his letter King introduces the idea that time is neutral. King states, “Actually, time itself is neutral; it can be used either destructively or constructively...We must use time

Williams expresses the point that time is neutral in her passage as she explains her family members dying because of breast cancer that was caused by the atomic bomb testings. She implicitly supports King’s claim as she writes, “Again and again, the American public was told by the government, in spite of burns, blisters, and nausea, ‘It has been found that the tests may be conducted with adequate assurance of safety under conditions prevailing at the bombing reservation...For many years, I did just that--listened, observed, and quietly formed my own opinions within a culture”(Williams 665-666). These quotes support King’s idea because Williams is explaining that the government, the victims and even herself, just let time pass without taking action. Because they just let time pass, the issue was never properly addressed and nothing was progressing or changing. Her family members were still suffering and dying from breast