Letter From Birmingham Jail Analysis
Michael Darmozadeh
Letter From a Birmingham Jail: Wise and Timely
The African-American Civil Rights Movement targeted towards outlawing racial discrimination against African Americans, and predominantly focused on creating equality among all individuals. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. particularly was one of the prominent figures of the movement. Due to the presence of injustice in Birmingham, Alabama, King planned a non-violent protest against racial segregation practiced by the city 's government and downtown retailers. Unfortunately, his plans did not succeed and King was arrested. In response to the arrest, eight clergymen of the White Church of the South criticized Dr. King 's work and accused him for breaking the law. While incarcerated …show more content…
King uses logic and evidence to convince the reader about his reason for engaging in the nonviolent campaign. In the beginning, he explains that he is in Birmingham because injustice is prevalent, and that local affiliates had invited him to participate in the nonviolent action. Additionally, he made a promise and when the hour came, he fulfilled that promise. Dr. King is a man of God, and a man of God does not break a promise, especially when one is in need. Dr. King goes on to explain that it is unfortunate that current white power structure has left the African-American community with only one available course of action. He states that, "Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue"(301). Simply put, the African-American community would like to confront the issue with negotiations, but the white moderate is unwilling, and the most effective way to force a community to confront an issue is with a nonviolent direct action. Additionally, Dr. King goes on to state, "Lamentably, it is an historical fact that privileged groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily"(301). Moreover, Dr. King expresses that Birmingham is one of the most thoroughly segregated cities in the United States. Also, it has a readily known ugly record of brutality. This simply strengthens his argument on the reason for their campaign in Birmingham, and brings in evidence that many people in the country know of the segregation that is so prevalent there. Dr. King backs up the logical course of action that was taken by bringing in evidence to the reader, especially the eight clergymen, showing that they are simply lacking knowledge of what truly is going on in Birmingham, and they misunderstood the true intentions for the nonviolent
Letter From a Birmingham Jail: Wise and Timely
The African-American Civil Rights Movement targeted towards outlawing racial discrimination against African Americans, and predominantly focused on creating equality among all individuals. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. particularly was one of the prominent figures of the movement. Due to the presence of injustice in Birmingham, Alabama, King planned a non-violent protest against racial segregation practiced by the city 's government and downtown retailers. Unfortunately, his plans did not succeed and King was arrested. In response to the arrest, eight clergymen of the White Church of the South criticized Dr. King 's work and accused him for breaking the law. While incarcerated …show more content…
King uses logic and evidence to convince the reader about his reason for engaging in the nonviolent campaign. In the beginning, he explains that he is in Birmingham because injustice is prevalent, and that local affiliates had invited him to participate in the nonviolent action. Additionally, he made a promise and when the hour came, he fulfilled that promise. Dr. King is a man of God, and a man of God does not break a promise, especially when one is in need. Dr. King goes on to explain that it is unfortunate that current white power structure has left the African-American community with only one available course of action. He states that, "Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue"(301). Simply put, the African-American community would like to confront the issue with negotiations, but the white moderate is unwilling, and the most effective way to force a community to confront an issue is with a nonviolent direct action. Additionally, Dr. King goes on to state, "Lamentably, it is an historical fact that privileged groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily"(301). Moreover, Dr. King expresses that Birmingham is one of the most thoroughly segregated cities in the United States. Also, it has a readily known ugly record of brutality. This simply strengthens his argument on the reason for their campaign in Birmingham, and brings in evidence that many people in the country know of the segregation that is so prevalent there. Dr. King backs up the logical course of action that was taken by bringing in evidence to the reader, especially the eight clergymen, showing that they are simply lacking knowledge of what truly is going on in Birmingham, and they misunderstood the true intentions for the nonviolent