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Summary Of Letter From Birmingham Jail

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In Martin Luther King Jr’s Letter from Birmingham Jail, written in 1963 which was a crucial time in the fight for African American rights and equality. Dr. King is writing his letter on a newspaper from jail and doesn’t even have a proper utensils because he is in solitary confinement because of the protesting he was doing in Birmingham. In his letter Dr. King is responding to The Call for Unity written by eight Alabama clergymen. King’s audience was not only the clergyman but the residents of Birmingham since the letter was published in the newspaper for all to view and read. King wanted to respond to them to express his feelings, attitudes and reasons for the work that he has been doing in Birmingham especially the numerous protests that …show more content…

immediately addresses his credibility and directly responds to one of the main points that the clergymen state about outsiders. King states “ I think I should indicate why I am here in Birmingham, since you have been influenced by the view which argues against “outsiders coming in(444)” King goes on to describes how he is a member of several different organizations that are fighting for equal Civil Rights most importantly how he is the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and he states how “ I was invited here. I am here because I have organizational ties here.(444)” King also demonstrates his credibility to the Clergyman as a minister and a brother of the church by quoting the Paul from the gospels and also early Christians who would rather be eaten by the lions than obey unjust laws(447). Martin Luther King Jr references Paul when he states “So I am Compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own home town. Like Paul, I must constantly respond to Macedonian call for aid”(444). In addition to establishing that he is a religious man he also show that he is a literate, knowledgeable and wise man when he quotes Socrates, Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson who were all seen as radical leaders of their time periods but are now heroic leaders of change. One of the main focuses of his argument is Justice and direct action which is an idea that King supports throughout his argument by showing that he has immense knowledge of court cases and historical situations which agains adds to his

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