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Summary Of Martin Luther King's 'Praying For Sheetrock'

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Social progressive is the force to create a better society. However, the change need to be happen on both frontiers: National and local level. In “Praying for Sheetrock”, The central theme highlight the bit by bit progressive of the people in McIntosh County toward social equality in order to catch up with the national change by Martin Luther King Jr. The town were isolated from the national change. The social change started at Washington might be a great step for the nation. Because of the dictatorship of sheriff Poppell, the social change only appeared as myth to the people in his town. “Martin Luther King may have delivered I have a dream speech”, But his life appear very “hollow” and “remote” to the people (Greene, 2006, p, 22).His words and dreams did not reach the heart of the people of McIntosh County. Thus people are still acquiesced to the rule of the sheriff without any awareness or protest. On the other hand, the sheriff appeared to be fully aware of the situation, and he found his solution to evade this social change. He appointed …show more content…

With his efforts and experiences, Thurnell Alston has changed the system in his town bit by bit. He were an inspiration for many African American in McIntosh. It was not happen overnight, but eventually the sheriff’s rule were over. “With his death, the people saw an opportunity to… upgrade”, and His death were symbolic point to the people (Greene, 2006, p, 268). It’s were a chance for Thurnell to reset the system. In this town, Thurnell represents Martin Luther King, because he physically bring the change to the town. There were little positive influences that reach this town when the sheriff were running the system. In short, the change need to be taken by the local people action. No matter how powerful the federal laws are. There will always be someone who hack it to protect their interest. It’s up to the people to change their local political

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In the book, Praying for Sheetrock, the nonfiction story center on the oppressed black people in the county ruled by a corrupt sheriff Tom Poppell and his people and preyed on the tourists passing through the county on their way to Florida where residents rely on the goods from the wreckage. This is one of the way how people survive in the county and sheriff Tom Poppell is mainly responsible for this to happen. The white minority control almost all the political and economic power in the county. Even though there were many unfair and racial problems, the people in the county remained peaceful and calm. In order to make the community stays silence, sheriff Tom Poppell and his people used their power to make sure races in the county were divided.

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The late twentieth century is the pinnacle of civil rights movements in the United States of America. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of many who held America’s hand into this time of racial metamorphosis, he was one of the main leaders of the Civil Rights until his tragic and violent assassination. To venerate the marking of ten years since King’s death, Cesar Chavez-- a labor union organizer and civil rights leader-- continues to uphold/argue King’s ideals of peaceful protest in this newspaper article by incorporating distinctive diction, alongside contrast and then progresses to reason with the morality and beliefs of the general american populace. At the start of the text, Chavez bluntly states to the reader the partnership of nonviolent

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Since the Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery in 1863 there was a perpetual battle for African American equality in the United States that was a key part of our history throughout the twentieth century. Anne Moody’s Coming of in Mississippi is a book that greatly outlines the hardships faced by a black individual during the fight for equality. One main theme covered in the book is whether violent or nonviolent action is more productive in the fight for equality. This argument is one that defined various African American leaders in the mid nineteenth century. Leaders such as Martin Luther King prided themselves on nonviolent protests while others such as Malcolm X argued that violence was needed to truly reach equality.

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What makes a government and society moral and just has been a reoccurring question and issue throughout time. Henry David Thoreau, an American transcendentalist, stressed civil disobedience and greatly showed his disbeliefs on the Mexican-American War in his essay, “Resistance to Civil Government.” Through comparing the nation's political authority to a machine and not paying his taxes as a method of protest, Thoreau manages to coax the “true citizen” to stand up against unjust government. Martin Luther King, an American Baptist minister and activist, was a leader and an important part of the African-American Civil rights movement. He fought for black rights and stood up against authorities unjust treatment of his fellow black brothers and sisters.

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In the past the city had made many false promises and devastated countless aspirations. The direct action campaign is the only alternative when negotiations fail due to white leaders refusing them. Moreover, direct action creates chaos that forces them to negotiate. King next addresses the reason why he did not wait to see if the new administration within the city a chance to remedy the injustice was that Boutwell is still a segregationist, and “the ‘wait’ has almost always meant ‘never’”, so the black Americans cannot wait any longer. Then King refutes idea that he is supporting some laws but breaking other, he mentioned that there are two type of law: just law and unjust law.

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In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. led a peaceful movement in Birmingham, Alabama. The purpose of the demonstration was to bring awareness and end to racial disparity in Birmingham. Later that night, King and his followers were detained by city authorities. While in custody, King wrote the famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” This letter voiced out his disappointment in the criticisms, and oppositions that the general public and clergy peers obtained.

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, uses the lense of social power in order to get his thoughts across. Social power is the degree of influence that an individual or organization has among their peers and within their society as a whole. This idea is illustrated throughout his letter to show the significance of the disabilities and unfair treatment the black community has faced for the entirety of their existence. African americans have never been able to gain the respect from others they deserve due to the idea that other races have more power on them simply due to the color of their skin. Martin Luther King is able to express these ideas by referencing multiple examples as to how social power has negatively affected their societal presence for many years.

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Birmingham Jail Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the most iconic people of the 20th century. One of the reasons Martin Luther King Jr. was such a great and influential revolutionary in the context of civil rights is because of his mastery of ethos, pathos, and logos. Even today when mentioning King’s name in a conversation commands respect which shows just how great of a character he was, which demonstrates ethos. King also had the ability to connect emotionally with people of all different races and could easily be seen as an embodiment of the civil rights movement. Last, but not least King demonstrated logos through his words, he was a very well educated man who articulated himself well and could appeal to logic with ease.

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In order to achieve true freedom one must discover that you can break unjust laws through peaceful protest. In “Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and “The Speech at The March Washington” by Josephine Baker each article passionately argues about the disadvantages of the black community, the equality and power of education. We must learn to act with patients and not guns we must protect are self’s with a pen and paper not violence. Dr. King once4 said “Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. It is unique in history which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it.

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Martin Luther King Jr. in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” addresses criticism from clergymen. King expresses his belief that his actions during the Human Right Movement were not “untimely,” and that he is not an “outsider. ”(1) King’s purpose is to inform them of his reason for being there and why he believes that although there may never be a proper time to change society, he is tired of it happening to his people. He adopts an optimistic tone in hopes that he can convince the people of Birmingham to give everyone their Human Rights that they deserve.

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On the other hand, Martin Luther King Jr., having been born into a time of perspicuous inequality and ongoing segregation, served as a roaring voice to the masses of people undergoing oppression because of the people who were set in their ideals and who didn’t open their minds to a different way of thinking. In Machiavelli’s “The Prince” and Martin Luther king Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, the dissimilar beliefs both men possessed and the unforeseen connection between the ideologies of Machiavelli and the essence of Martin Luther King Jr. enables us to acquire a deeper understanding of whom the astounding Machiavellian man Martin Luther King jr. embodied . The distinction between the beliefs of both Machiavelli and Martin Luther King jr. were considerably visible. Machiavelli noted that men in powerful leadership positions have different ways of achieving success and glory and that in attaining it it is necessary “ to get there by various methods; one with caution, another with haste; one by force, another by skill; one by patience, another by

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John Fitzgerald Kennedy, another incredible man, affirmed in his inaugural address that he would do anything to insure “survival and success of liberty” for Americans and it cost him his life (jfklibrary). Beyond his wealth and power, Kennedy was always considerate of the common man. This essay will explain how both Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy wanted to end segregation with faith and cooperation, but their ideas of achieving change were different; this essay will also connect their sacrifices, like going to jail or having the will to die, for the sake of the people.

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(Pg 276) A person that has control on the outcome didn’t even stand up to help the trial of Tom Robinson. This unjust area is completely dependent to the racial thoughts in Maycomb. Not only that but black people aren’t welcomed into this area due to the possible punishment that could happen to them. They could be held accountable for something they didn’t even do.

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