The United States claims to value equality, but many often discriminate people who seem different. From the time of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s reflection in “Letter From Birmingham Jail” to present day, many people in society conjectures that everyone has the same rights and privileges, however, there is still inequality. All people in America are not given the same advantages others have when unjust and prejudicial treatment remains.
It is evident that injustice can spread throughout society. According to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Letter From Birmingham Jail, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" (paragraph 4). Unjust actions should be opposed everywhere, including opposing the independence and rights of others. Many people are denied freedom and rights, for example immigrants. People come to the United States in search for a better life. If undocumented immigrants were given the same privileges and rights as everyone else, they would not have to live in fear of deportation.
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Additionally, when Malcolm X stated “If you were black, you were born in jail”, he is describing his mindset of how the world actually treats people like him. As stated by the NAACP, African Americans are incarcerated more than 5 times the rate of white people. Also, although African Americans and whites are known for using drugs at similar rates, the imprisonment rate of African Americans due to drug charges are nearly 6 times more compared to white people. Withal, when police brutality cases happen, they usually are not held accountable and cases similar to Eric Garner, who died from the use of a chokehold from the NYPD for selling cigarettes continues. Likewise, Tamir Rice, Renisha McBride, and Michael Brown all experienced events likewise to this. All is not progressing as well as it
Martin Luther King justifies his cause for the protest by putting the men in the shoes of the black people that are trying to be heard through the protests. For instance, he raises doubts about the meaning of a “just law” and pointing out specific examples that exemplifies that laws were unfair and unjust. “We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was ‘legal’ and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was ‘illegal.’ It was ‘illegal’ to aid and comfort a Jew in Hitler’s Germany” (King). This was a powerful example of an unjust law because how could it be illegal to aid a person under a dictator like Hitler’s rule.
The Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr., is as stated, a letter. It is in response to the clergymen who criticized him for being in Alabama. Throughout the letter, King explains why he is in Birmingham. He stated that he was there to negotiate with businesses. Some made promises to King and did not fulfill them.
Alyssa Farris Dr. Michael Torrence English 1020 10 February 2015 1. Review paragraphs 1-4 carefully. What is King's purpose in that section of the Letter? Who is he addressing and how does he attempt to build confidence and trust (ethos)? How does his tone show awareness of his actions?
.Historical Context of Martin Luther King Jr. Letter from the Birmingham Jail and Summary of Dr King’s arguments for social justice Martin Luther King Jr. used a policy which was linked with the nonviolent resistance in order to campaign for change. Despite of countering the violence against the aggressions, he adopted fair laws and later call for the collective social based reforms by highlighting all the nonviolent means and ways for instance boycotting.
Martin Luther King wrote "Letter from Birmingham Jail" not only to reply to criticism from clergymen, but to expose the racism in this city and promote his mission. King starts off his letter by writing about how he does not usually reply to all the criticism he receives, but he feels that this topic is too important to let pass by (King 331). King appeals to all aspects of citizens. By mentioning that he is president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, King ethically appeals to his audience by strengthening his character with experience and leadership skills (King 332). Another way King ethically appeals to his audience is by writing about the many occasions that African Americans have been treated unfairly.
In Martin Luther King Jr’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” King responds to the criticisms written by a group of clergymen about the work that he and his followers (the oppressed black people, members of the SCLC, and a select few of white supporters) are pursuing in Birmingham. Although King directly addresses his fellow clergymen, he expresses deep disappointment in the white churches and moderates of the south as well. Throughout the letter the audience can read how the actions committed against black people by religious and nonreligious white moderates alike causes for injustice to take place in falsely depicted ‘just’ ways. King explains the flaw of how those who fight against him are not solely fighting against their own brothers and
In regard to your latest publication entitled “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, I must say that you present your thoughts well. To an extent, I agree with what you put forth. Despite this, I took note of your address directly to us church leaders. You described your belief that we would be some of your “strongest allies”, and stated that instead, some of us are “outright opponents”. To that, I object.
In Martin Luther King Jr.’s, Letter from a Birmingham Jail, his thesis or his main claim is racial segregation, how he is an outsider, and the injustice that African Americans had to endure due to politics, and religion. He not only speaks of the injustice that he see for himself, but the injustice and segregation that goes on all around the United States. He speaks about how a nonviolent campaign is set up or how it happens. He speaks about how they kept pushing back the nonviolent march and reasons why they would have to push back. Also how there really is never a “right” time to do a campaign or a march.
Amity Lodevico ENG 1A Professor Clark 10 September, 2016 A strong country can only prevail when individuals have attained the ideals of justice and equality. However, throughout American history people have had to fight for their rights due to the injustices caused by the government. In “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” Martin Luther King Jr. promotes the importance of justice and equality through responding to a letter from clergymen who wanted him to stop protesting against racial inequality. King’s letter builds upon his influences such as Henry David Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience” and Thomas Jefferson’s “The Declaration of Independence,” through expressing discontentment with injustice and proclaiming away to combat it. The texts can also
UIN 432009218 Prompt #03 In one of Professor [1]Hernandez's classes, he mentioned the concept of “system of oppression.” [2]According to an online resource, oppression occurs when one social group is subordinate and the other is privileged because of social norms and systemic discrimination. Since oppression exists, there will be corresponding justice. [1]In "Letter from Birmingham Jail," Dr. King defines justice as "the corrective force that heals the ills of society.
No one believed more in the capability of a single man then Martin Luther King Jr and Henry David Thoreau did. Martin Luther King was a minister and activist leader in the African American Civil Rights Movement. He was born January 15, 1929 and later assassinated in April 4, 1968 due to the fact that he fought for civil rights. Henry David Thoreau was an American essayist, poet, abolitionist, and development critic who was born July 12, 1817. Although King and Thoreau were born in different centuries they both had similar views toward civil disobedience which were expressed in their essays; “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience (1849)” and “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, they favor the role of the individual because they believe one man is capable
Many people believe in the word “Activism,” but they have never truly experienced what it means to be an “Activist”. During the Spring of 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. was embroiled in the civil rights struggle when he penned his now famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. To completely understand Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, you have to understand why it was written. It was, while King was in jail for 11 days in Birmingham, Alabama during the civil rights struggles of 1963, written in response to a local newspaper article written by 8 local white clergymen. In that article they questioned why he was there (he was loosely referred to as an outsider) and the timing of the peaceful protests.
In the eyes of Martin Luther King Jr., Justice within a society is achieved through the implementation of just laws. Furthermore, “just laws are regulations that have been created by man that follow the laws of God for man” (“Clergymen’s Letter”). Any law that does not correspond with the ideals of God and morality are considered to be unjust or a form of injustice. King identifies that injustice is clearly evident within the justice system. This injustice can truly be seen through the misconduct imposed toward the African American community.
When King wrote, "one who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty" (King 226-227), he meant that to protest an unjust law, the oppressed group must be willing to accept the penalties in order to bring about change. This applies to any group challenging injustice. Change will happen when people recognize injustice and voice their concerns. The law should be just for each and every group of people, and it shouldn't bend for a person based on their skin color or ethnic background. Immigrants have to combat injustice when trying to start a life in a new
In terms of legacies, Martin Luther King Jr. is an example of someone whose legacy has left an impact on a great many fields. The first to come to mind for most would be civil rights activism, as he was an instrumental figure in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. However, Martin Luther King Jr is an extremely influential figure in the field of oration and rhetoric. His Letter from Birmingham Jail is a work that he wrote while incarcerated in the Birmingham City Jail in response to criticism from Alabama clergymen. This letter is a prime example of King’s expertise in constructing persuasive rhetoric that appealed to the masses at large.