Essay On The 14th Amendment Disenfranchisement

Dr. King was an African American who wanted each and every human being to be treated equal. He did not care what color you were because in his eyes color did not matter. Dr. King was born in Atlanta, Georgia and grew up attending Ebenezer Baptist Church. While at Ebenezer he served as a pastor from 1914-1931. King was a very educated man which shows by him graduating high school at the young age of fifteen. He later went on and graduated from Moore House College.
After reading Dr. Martin Luther Kings letter titled “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” I have an opinion on whether or not the 14th Amendment disenfranchisement laws fit King’s definition of an unjust law. I believe that these laws fit King’s definition of an unjust law. King says an unjust law is “a code that a numerical or power majority group compels a minority group to obey but does not make binding on itself….difference made legal.” One reason that I believe the laws fit the definition of an unjust law is that not all felonies are severe. Some felonies can be determined according to their value. For example, if you were to steal a game system (or
anything that costs five hundred dollars or more) you can be charged with a felony. Personally, I do not feel that someone who steals a game system is a threat. Therefore, their voting rights should not be denied. Another reason is after felons serve their time they are normal citizens just like everyone else.
We as citizens can not always look back to peoples’ past to criticize them. Some individuals learn from their mistakes and should be given a second chance. At the time felons complete their sentence they can not be considered participating in rebellion or any other crime. This is because they already did the crime and paid their time. No one person in this world is perfect. Professional athletes are under contact with their respective teams and they still use illegal substances (which are a felony) and they get suspended for an amount of time, but they can rejoin their team. Most of them still have their voting rights. You can look at these athletes as a power majority group because they get more publicity and get treated different than the average
human. My third reason brings me to our wonderful law enforcement officers. If we go back to Dr. King’s time we all remember the sit-ins that took place. African Americans sat at the front counters enduring cruel punishment. The cops that beat them were committing a felony, but nothing happened and they continued to beat them. These cops were still allowed to vote because their actions were justified. They were apart of a power majority group that made the minorities(African Americans) follow rules, but they themselves did not have to follow them. My fourth reason is that a felons vote could change who makes the laws, which then can affect how they live. In the long run felons can be deprived of working at numerous places. As a result of this they will have extra time on their hands and could end up committing even a larger crime. By felons having a job they can change their lives and be productive. They can learn from their mistakes to help others and show them what not to do. So, in conclusion I believe the disenfranchisement laws which prohibit convicted felons from voting fit Dr. King’s definition of an unjust law. Not matter the color of your skin, what you do, or your race should be held against you.
Credits
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html