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Letter From Birmingham Jail Comparison

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Throughout history there have been influential people who have advocated for certain ideals that have been known as radical or, for some, idiotic. With most changes that have occurred in history, it starts off with one person making a stand and attempting to change something. From that person comes others who have been influenced and make changes for themselves. One of the changes that has been most controversial was the topic of slavery in the 19th and 20th century. David Henry Thoreau was a 19th century author who wrote a popular essay titled, “Civil disobedience”. Similar to Thoreau, Martin Luther King Jr was an activist who wrote a famous letter titled, “A letter from Birmingham Jail”. The writings have similar aspects when it comes …show more content…

, Thoreau stated,“I can not stand for an instant recognize that political organization as my government which is the slaves government also.”(Civil Disobedience, Thoreau) Martin Luther King Jr writes in ‘A Letter from Birmingham Jail’ that “ Its unjust treatment of Negros in the courts is a notorious reality.” (Letter from Birmingham Jail, Joliffe and Hephzibah) These quotes show that Thoreau and Martin Luther King Jr both share the ideals that the government is against any person that is not white. Thoreau will not be accepting the rule of the government because he can not trust an organization that discriminates against other human beings because they are of a different race. Martin Luther King Jr discusses how the government is corrupt and does not care about all their citizens. Thoreau has influenced King to use his audience to show that the citizens of America should refuses to accept the rules of the government as they are because the government is selfish and focus on what they want to do for their own needs and not what they can do for the people around …show more content…

Thoreau states, “I think it is not too soon for honest men to rebel and revolutionize.” ( Civil Disobedience, Thoreau) In Martin Luther King Jr’s letter he writes, “Individuals may see the moral light and voluntarily give up their unjust posture.” (Letter from Birmingham Jail, Joliffe and Hephzibah) Both authors are after the goal to give mankind the cause to stop discrimination and want men to stand up for what is right willingly. Thoreau wants the reader to understand that what is happening in the world is not okay. He wants the reader to understand that they have the power to make their own choices and he wants them to read his work and go and change the world because of what they read. Thoreau ideals have been rooted into MLK because King wants the same thing that Thoreau wanted; for men to know their morals and want to follow the path that will lead to racial

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