ipl-logo

Letter From Birmingham Jail In The 1960s

448 Words2 Pages

The “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is set in a time of disturbing unrest, caused by racial issues between the blacks and whites of America. The year of 1963 went down as a rough year in the terms of violence, segregation, and living life everyday in an unpeaceful manner. Other than Martin Luther’s letter, many events also happened that shaped history as we have it today. During the months of April through August, Birmingham, AL and other towns had riots, speeches, and civil abruptness. The historical context represented in this time is shown greatly in not only the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” but in the news daily. April 16th, 1963 was the day Martin Luther King Jr. decided to write a letter while being in prison in the Birmingham Jail. He talks about issues that bring up controversy among black and whites during this time period of the 1960’s. It clearly shows the violence and mistreat of people was more harsh than I feel people in this day could imagine. In the letter, Martin Luther declares, “But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sister and brothers at whim..” (90). That is enough said and just one example …show more content…

Corky said speaking on the unrest in Alabama that, “from May 2nd to May 10th 1963, the nation bore witness as police in Birmingham, Ala, aimed high-powered hoses and sicced snarling dogs on black men, women and even children who just wanted one thing- to be treated the same as white Americans (par. 1). May 4th created a light in some people’s minds. The “Connor’s Cops” made the decision to take down “whites only signs” and to make hiring for blacks higher. King describes this time as a “moment of great victory” (par. 4). On August 28th Martin Luther King Jr. I Have a Dream Speech was made. This was, if not one of the greatest speeches ever made to man. It had an impact on so many people in different walks of

Show More
Related

  • Theme Of Injustice In Letter From Birmingham Jail

    829 Words  | 4 Pages

    Injustices in Birmingham While sitting in the Birmingham jail in 1963, Martin Luther King Jr., writes a powerful and emotional letter to the clergymen of Birmingham. In his letter, he responds to the harsh criticism and injustices he received for simply protesting peacefully without a permit. King states in his letter, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

    Read More

  • Letter From Birmingham Jail Primary Sources

    232 Words  | 1 Pages

    Others might say all leaders are rebels because they perform illegal actions to get what they want. For example, King, Martin Luther Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail, states, “But I am sure that if I had lived in Germany during this time, I would have aided and comforted my Jewish brothers even though it was illegal.” This means Mr.King would’ve helped unexplored Jews in Hitler 's Germany even if it meant going against the law. This shows Mr.King, a leader representing rebellion as he states he wouldn 't have a problem braking authority. Nevertheless not all leaders are rebels.

    Read More

  • Mlk Letter From Birmingham Jail

    254 Words  | 2 Pages

    Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail, which was written in April 16, 1963, is a passionate letter that addresses racial segregation and all the injustices to the black American society. He writes this letter as a response to the eight clergymen, but it also became one of the most influential letters in defense of nonviolent movement ever written. Birmingham was one of the most segregated cities in the country and the most violent. Even after segregation was found to be unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1954. In Birmingham, white and black Americans were very much separate with “white only” hotels, restaurants, and even bathrooms.

    Read More

  • A Rhetorical Analysis Of A Letter From Birmingham Jail.

    562 Words  | 3 Pages

    In A letter from Birmingham jail, Martin Luther King Jr writes to the clergy men and his supporters as “A Call for Unity”. King had been put under arrest from partaking in a peaceful march against segregation on property that he did not have permission to be marching on. In the 1960’s segregation laws and policies were under the Jim Crow regulations; separate racial schools, colored-only bathrooms, separate places for the colored to eat and they would have to sit in the back of the bus. The letter King wrote was critical because he reaches out to the Clergymen from Birmingham Prison and uses the rhetorical appeal of his own character to establish his credibility on the subject of racial discrimination and injustice.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter From Birmingham Jail

    561 Words  | 3 Pages

    The year of 1963 was a hard time for Martin Luther King Jr. and the black community, as they faced brutal violence and heavy segregation.

    Read More

  • Dr. Martin Luther King's Letter From Birmingham Jail

    1002 Words  | 5 Pages

    On April 12, 1963, eight clergymen wrote an open letter, “A Call for Unity”. In this published letter, the clergymen expressed their strong disapproval of the civil rights demonstrations taking place in Birmingham, Alabama. That same day, civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested for protesting without a permit. In his short eleven-day jail sentence, Dr. King directly responded to the clergymen with a letter of his own. In his letter, Dr. King informed his readers about the protests in Birmingham.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Letter From Birmingham Jail

    1030 Words  | 5 Pages

    “Letter from Birmingham Jail” was written by Martin Luther King Jr when he was suffering unusual harsh conditions in the Birmingham jail, and it was sent to several clergymen who had written an open letter criticizing the actions of King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. In the letter, King told the clergymen that he was upset about their criticisms, and that he wished to address their concerns by discussing about the inequality existing in the contemporary society and the strategy of nonviolent resistance to racism. As a revelatory letter, it leads readers to recognize the fact that they have the right and responsibility to break unjust laws and take more direct actions rather than waiting potentially forever for justice to

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Letter From Birmingham Jail

    926 Words  | 4 Pages

    2.4 Rhetorical Analysis In April of 1963, while incarcerated in Birmingham City jail, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote an influential letter defending his anti-segregation protests. King had been arrested while participating in a peaceful anti-segregation march, although several local religious groups counted on King for support. Since King’s arrest, he had time to think deeply about the situation; therefore, he decides to reply back to the Alabama clergymen. Who had criticize Martin Luther King because he was simply doing something that was right and violence was not needed for King.

    Read More

  • What Is Mlk's Argument In Letter From Birmingham Jail

    333 Words  | 2 Pages

    In his “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King, Jr. is responding to criticism of the peaceful protests and sit-in’s that were taking place in Birmingham, which led to his being arrested and the reason that he was in jail. He first responds to the accusation of being an “outsider” by setting the stage for his being in Birmingham due to being invited because of his ties to the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights organization and due to the fact that he is president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Next, Martin Luther King expands on his moral beliefs that there is “injustice” in the way that Birmingham is “the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States”.

    Read More

  • How Does King Use Anaphora In Letter From Birmingham Jail

    1332 Words  | 6 Pages

    During a time of violence, segregation, and racism, few people had the courage to speak out against it. Few people had the bravery to go against what the masses believed, and fewer had the authority to do so. One of these few people was Martin Luther King Jr. and one of the ways in which he spoke out was through a letter written while imprisoned. King was imprisoned by Bull Connor, a police chief in Birmingham, Alabama in the 1960’s for not having a license to parade or protest. While in jail, King received a letter written by eight Alabama clergymen who pleaded for African Americans to stop protesting and wait for segregation to happen on its own.

    Read More

  • Pathos In Letter From Birmingham Jail

    632 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the “letter from Birmingham Jail” by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he uses pathos, logos and rhetorical devices such as imagery, sarcasm and biblical allusions to show how his work of nonviolent protests are smart and how Birmingham has violated their civil rights. He expresses himself in his letter by explaining why he can not wait any longer because of the countless murders, the unsolved bombing, lynching, and violence towards the black community. MLK Jr. came across a statement which was a call for unity by eight Clergymen while being in the Birmingham city jail because of him not having a license to protest. In response to the eight Clergymen, Dr. king decided to write a historical letter letting them know that freedom was not an option because of the false promise and the continued violence. The letter is written to inform the people who are against, neutral and with segregation that it is time to take action and prove to the clergymen why he will stand up for what is right.

    Read More

  • Letter From Birmingham Jail

    876 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Letter from Birmingham Jail and the I have a Dream Speech, both written by Martin Luther King Jr., explain the same message to people in two different ways. The Letter from Birmingham Jail was to write a letter to defend the strategy of nonviolent resistance to racism. He wrote this because he wants African Americans to come together and peacefully protest the unjust laws that are in place. On the other hand, his speech was to a large group of citizens, black and white, fighting for freedom, equality, justice and love. He used many rhetorical devices in his speech and letter that compared the two, and to show the differences in a clear way.

    Read More

  • Letter From Birmingham Jail By Martin Luther King Jr.

    957 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Letter from Jail” On April 16, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a letter to the eight clergymen while he was incarcerated. Dr. King wrote this letter to address one of the biggest issues in Birmingham, Alabama and other areas within the United States. The “Letter from Birmingham Jail” discussed the great injustices that were happening during that time towards the black community. Dr. King wanted everyone to have the same equal rights as the white community, he also went into further details about the struggles that African Americans were going through for so many years, which he felt like it could change. Martin Luther King Jr’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, expressed his beliefs and his actions about the Human Rights Movement.

    Read More

  • Summary Of Martin Luther King's Letter From Birmingham Jail

    895 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Martin Luther King Letter From Birmingham Jail

    1522 Words  | 7 Pages

    King believed that if he could just go to Birmingham, and protest non-violently, that he could make a difference. On April 16, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. was imprisoned, in Birmingham, for protesting the civil rights of Black Americans. While in jail, he began writing a letter addressing the clergymen. His main audience in writing this letter was to the eight clergymen who criticized his actions and also the majority of the population as well. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail”, argues that injustice

    Read More

More about Letter From Birmingham Jail In The 1960s

Open Document