Tension In Dr. King's Letter From Birmingham Jail

In “Letter from Birmingham Jail” first two pages he addresses the clergymen of his church and others as well. During his protest, he expresses how upset he was about what is going on right now. He writes down their complain that he is an “outsider” who has come to Birmingham to cause trouble . He defends his right to be there in a straightforward, humble tone, explaining that the SCLC is based in Atlanta but operates throughout the South. One of its affiliates had invited the organization to Birmingham, which is why they came. But he then provides a moral reason for his presence, saying that he came to Birmingham to battle injustice. He believes that “all communities and states” are interrelated, he feels compelled to work for justice anywhere

King understands that the clergymen take pride in negotiation over violent protest, but he thinks that the negotiations cannot happen without protest, which creates a “crisis” and “tension” that forces unwilling parties (not just the white people) to negotiate in good faith. He tells you that words like “tension” frighten white moderates, but accepts the phenomenons as “constructive and nonviolent.” He gives several examples that suggest tension is necessary for people to grow, and repeats that the process of tension created by direct action such as is necessary in this case if segregation is to end. He turns to the clergymen criticism that the SCLC action is “untimely.” After saying to others that Albert Boutwell was not good enough to warrant patience, he makes an extended claim that “privileged groups” will always oppose action that threatens the status and him as well. They will continue to consider attacks on their privilege as “untimely,” especially because groups have a tendency towards allowing immorality that individuals might oppose. The black community has waited long enough. Dr. King insists that the black man has waited “more than 340 years” for justice, and he then launches into a litany of abuses that his people have suffered both over time and in his

He even said that he begs God to forgive him. That shows how much of a man he really is. Others wouldn’t be as respectful as he is. Especially because he is tired of all the things that were going on in his time. His children were even getting mistreated. He taught people that you don’t have to be hostile when you speak with someone. No one wants to work with someone who is always ready to rip someone’s head off. If you have zero self-control then you’re just like everyone else. You may not like Martin Luther King, but you will respect him, that’s a fact. He’s teaching people to react in love with the people that hate him. Not only because that’s what God wants you too but because the leader is telling you to. You may not know it, but as soon as the people walked with him, they acted like him because when one would fall, the others would follow him.

What may change now is the way others talk. Also, they would be hostile to everything. Violence would be the answer. Black on Black crimes is still in action. We don’t see one another as brother and sisters. We don’t see each other as one. We don’t care about each other 's feelings anymore, especially on social media. People won’t see the good in others. They’ll talk about you when you’re down and can still go to sleep. We don’t pray together. We definitely don’t agree together. We accept what society tells us what we need to be. In clothes, shoes, the way we talk,