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Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter To Birmingham City Jail

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Some people have claimed that Martin Luther King, Jr. is a 20th century Socrates. Indeed, King compares himself to Socrates at several points in his Letter from the Birmingham City Jail. In this paper I will argue that King is in fact a 20th century Socrates. By a 20th century Socrates, I mean someone who, like Socrates, is committed to practicing their philosophy, pursues just actions, and fights against moral complacency. I will show that King does meet this definition. Some people may argue that King is not a 20th century Socrates because he had a different stance on civil disobedience. However, King was in completely different circumstances from Socrates and because of that Socrates’s ideas on civil disobedience do not apply. Socrates …show more content…

King was committed to using nonviolent resistance as a means of achieving civil rights for African Americans. He believed that love and nonviolence were more powerful weapons against oppression than violence and hatred. King mentions multiple times throughout the letter about his commitment to the non-violent protest philosophy. King faced opposition, violence, and even death as he fought for civil rights. Despite this, he never wavered in his commitment to his beliefs and continued to speak out against injustice and oppression. King talks about how he was wrongfully imprisoned on charges of parading without a permit (294). King was fully aware of the risks he was taking in peacefully protesting and shows his commitment to his ideas by his willingness to go to jail. Socrates and King both were willing to take risks and punishment for actions that were completely …show more content…

He believed in nonviolent resistance and was a strong advocate for justice and equality. Through his speeches and peaceful protests, he inspired a nation to stand up against racial injustice and to work towards a future where all people are treated equally. King says, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.”( 290) Like Socrates, King pursued what he thought to be just actions. Despite facing opposition and imprisonment, King never wavered in his pursuit of justice and his legacy continues to inspire future generations to work towards a more just and equal

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