When talking about an individual’s civil right to freedom, King explains that it is not voluntarily given but has to be demanded by those in which it affects as it is a constitutional and God given right. The laws that impede a man his basic right to freedom are unjust and they have a right as well as the responsibility to break those unjust laws. King describes unjust laws as unmoral and a “human law that is not rooted in eternal and natural law… Any law that degrades human personality is unjust.” (King 6). The unjust laws he is describing are those that segregate African Americans and Whites, that which denies the African Americans their right to be in the same room, to share the same items, to live in a world that was founded on freedom.
Just laws apply to everyone, but unjust laws do not apply to everyone. So segregation laws are unjust. He also use example to show that some law can be just on paper, but applied unjustly. Therefore, we must break unjust laws because that shows the highest respect for
King backs this warrant by explaining the just and unjust laws that Negros are facing. Without justice racial equality will never be accomplished. King continues on by stating, “A just law is a manmade code that squares with the moral law or the low of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law.” King explains what an unjust law in further by expressing, “Any law that degrades human personality is unjust.
King defines that those who uphold human dignity, and unjust laws are those who degrade human personality. Unjust laws hurt not only the oppressed but also the oppressors, since they are given a false sense of superiority. Segregation was also a big factor that was considered an unjust law. It is a law that a majority forces the minority to follow while exempting itself from it. This is a law worth breaking to show that King’s ideas had a purpose behind it.
The Right to Brotherhood Dr. King 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama, Dr. Martin Luther King created a huge controversy, which generated a newspaper headlines through out the world. King’s movement in which he inspired, that Congress enacted the Civil Rights Act in 1964, which was the same year King himself was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his “I have a dream” speech. April 16, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote, “A Letter from a Birmingham Jail” to the Clergymen. This letter expressed his thoughts about segregation by providing examples of unjust laws and pointing out violations of constitutional rights. Dr. King also argues his point by writing about extremists, oppressed individuals,
If a law is unjust, we need to understand that it is okay to break it. For example, King describes to us some situations where past laws were 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’” (4). Throughout history, these laws have been broken and overcome. People will act against something they believe is wrong; it is a consequence of a marginalized group in a democratic society.
Bill of Rights Institute Society believes that peaceful resistance could not positively affect any situation no matter how big or how small. History has proven otherwise. There is a small amount of people committing acts of violence this does not speak for the good of the whole. History shows peaceful resistance positively impacts a free society. Peaceful resistance gives the ability to hear both sides and bridge the gap between opposing sides to help with finding a solution or common ground to build upon.
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.
King qualify the idea of being against the government when it becomes corrupted to guide humanity to a brighter path. Described by Thoreau, civilians are encouraged not to let governments overrule by putting morals ahead of unjust laws. If governments did overrule and people refuse to disobey, the outcomes of letting unjust laws exist would be worse than evil. Thus, civilians need to civilly disobedient during these situations when unjust laws exist but if people are too fearful to act “until they have persuaded the majority… the fault of the government itself” would create a remedy worse than evil (Thoreau 9). Unjust laws need to be transgressed by the citizens in order to create an enlightened state, one that recognizes the higher more independent power of an individual.
King backs this up stating, “We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was "legal" and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was "illegal." ” This statement shows that something being legal or illegal doesn’t make it right or wrong. This can be applied to present day, in the news recently Gay marriage has been a huge debate, and due to a Supreme Court Decision gay marriage is now legal. According to King’s definition of just and unjust laws Gay Marriage would be a unjust law because it isn’t morally right, or follow the law of God.
He argues his equality to be there like anyone else speaking on the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Atlanta, Georgia but run through every Southern state. Dr. King says “anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered outsiders” (4). He fought the issue against “injustice” because he believes every state is considered mutual. Nevertheless, King then refutes the difference upon just and unjust laws. King would concur with St. Augustine that “an unjust law is no law at all” (12).
Dr. King also included definitions and examples of unjust and just laws, and how they are not right. He included an example of these “laws” by talking about the things Adolf Hitler did was allowed but supposedly helping someone was not allowed. He writes and uses the letter to show the white Americans that are unaware of what is happening around them. Even, though Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is best remembered for his powerful voice and pathos in this letter is a thoughtful logical argument. Rhetorical Situations: Writer:
philosophizes that if we, as human beings, forgo our instincts at the service of something higher, justice will prevail. In “A Letter From a Birmingham Jail,” he asserts that there are certain permanent truths which will never evaporate. These truths will always stand firm as fundamental principles which justify what is morally right and wrong, just and unjust. King deliberates that “the yearning for freedom eventually manifests itself” (“Letter,” p. 771). Furthermore, Martin Luther King, Jr. declares that there are universal and borderless Gospels of Freedom and Justice, which resound in the natural constitution of every human person, and are uplifted, fulfilled, and dignified by the divine wisdom of
- Detail the distinction between just and unjust laws. Why is it important Dr. King make this distinction? - One has a legal and moral responsibility to obey “just” laws because they are a “ man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God.” Any “just” law uplifts human personality. One has a moral responsibility to disobey “unjust” laws because they are “ a code that is out of harmony with the moral law.”
He also proclaims that “… academic freedom is a reality today because Socrates practiced civil disobedience. King explains the difference between unjust and just laws by telling of the moral affect each one has, the way the white majority used unjust laws to their advantage, and why King thought it was our civil duty to break unjust laws. What unjust laws will your conscience tell you to civilly disobey
King addresses the characteristics of unjust laws in 3 points. First point being that just laws are always harmonious with natural morale law. Second point being that a just law is one that uplifts human personality as opposed to degrading human personality. Lastly, a just law can only be created in the most democratic manner possible and if it is not, the minority automatically has the right to disobey the law because they had no say in the creation of the law. As for the first point, a natural morale law must be measured by our natural human sense.