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Segregation In Letter From Birmingham Jail

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In today’s age, there are many laws in America that aren’t right. They demean another person’s rights, while some put people’s life in danger. It’s unsure why certain ones were created, but once the public realizes they aren’t necessarily helpful, they attempt to get rid of them. In “Letter from Birmingham Jail” a letter written to clergymen by Martin Luther King Jr. he addresses the laws in which he and many other people are oppressed. He makes many points and examples as of how the laws are unfair. If the law degrades a human, legalizes difference, or imposes on a minority group, it is an unjust law. Segregation is one example given, it affects a group that is unable to change anything due to other regulations. In addition, he explains how …show more content…

Laws can easily be differentiated on whether they are, or are not, just by checking if it follows certain guidelines told by Martin Luther King. In addition, if the laws are don't obey the set principles, then they end up harshly influencing people. King specifically stated the definition of an unjust law in the text, “An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law.” (pg. 29, par. 16). He explains that a unjust law morally is incorrect, and shouldn't be followed as it doesn't help put the community. It has nothing to do with what the majority believes is correct since during that time, many people thought the clergymen to be correct. As a …show more content…

Laws are discriminatory when they don’t allow others to speak up for their rights, or have say when the rule was fabricated. According to Martin Luther King “A law is unjust if it is inflicted on a minority that, as a result of being denied the right to vote, had no part in enacting or devising the law.” (pg. 29, par. 18). He explains that if the person isn't able to vote, or help devise the law, it shouldn't change anything for the person. Additionally, he is implying that the many regulations and laws placed to confine African-Americans are inequitable since they are not involved with the creation of those laws. Many similar events have occurred in which the population was influenced on enactment they weren't a part of. An example King gives is “We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was ‘legal’...It was ‘illegal’ to aid and comfort a Jew in Hitler’s Germany.” (pg. 30, par.22). Hitler is an infamous person, well known for the horrific things he did, if the current events are being compared to him it isn't anything good. The Jewish people in Germany went through terrible treatments that were completely legal due to Nazis inability to recognize what is acceptable to do to other humans, they didn't allow Jews have a say in anything. For a law to be justifiable in altering the rights of residents they

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