Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail

The letter was ostensibly conceived in response to a letter that had recently run in a local newspaper which had claimed that the protest were "unwise and untimely." However King also deliberately wrote his letter for a national audience. We believe that King states in the first sentence himself that he does not usually comment upon the criticism of his work. Yes he does criticize the white clergymen but basically he is trying to tell them that they should stop this segregation and that the black are not to be mistreated. Martin Luther Kings "letter from Birmingham Jail" strives to justify the desperate need for nonviolent direct action, the absolute immorality of unjust laws together with what a just law is. King wants to bring to the readers realization the fact that laws are only to be followed when they are rightfully just and correct. He also wants the readers to realize that negroes are not to be mistreated and that the mistreatment of negroes could have severe implications as in a violent protest against the laws made by the court. Mistreatment of this kind is labeled as racial discrimination. He wants the clergyman to realize that what they believe and think is wrong. King gives a singular, eloquent voice to a massive, jumbled movement. 'Letter from Birmingham Jail'"' is a clearly written essay that explains the reasons behind, and the methods of nonviolent civil disobedience, and gently expresses King's disappointment with those who are generally supportive of equal rights for African-Americans. Martin Luther King, more than any other figure, shaped American life from the mid-"'"50s to the late "'"60s. "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice anywhere!" " A just law is man made code that squares with the moral law or the law of the god. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law." " Any law that uplifts human personality is just." " Any law that degrades human personality is unjust." King through this letter tries to express his disappointment in sum people and delightment in others who supported his movement and thought process.

King states that he is in Birmingham primarily because he was 'invited' to Birmingham to engage in a nonviolent direct action program. He then tells the audience the history of the segregation that has taken place in Birmingham over the past years. He tries to tell the clergyman that the negroes have never received their rights and that 'injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere' he states an utter disappointment because demonstrations are taking place but he believes that the white have forced the negroes into such extreme form of action. "In any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps :collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self- purification; and direct action." King gives enough evidence of injustice happened with negroes in the past like bombings if negroe homes and churches and unjust treatment of negroes in the court. Negroe leaders tried to attain justice from the whites but without any success. Several promises were also made by the Birmingham's economic community but none of them were ever fulfilled. Negroes were very disappointed and as always they came across one word used by the authorities time and again which was "wait" King carried out a series of workshops on nonviolence and the direct action program was scheduled for Easter but it was postponed for after the mayoral elections. King interests the readers by trying to answer a question that may have aroused in their mind and that is why do they not use the path of negotiation. '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." "The purpose of our direct action program is to create a situation so crisis- packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation." King also states that he believes that Mr. Boutwell and Mr. Connor are both segregationists and under their control racial discrimination will never disappear. King's answer to the clergyman's assertion that breaking the law is not the way to achieve the results the African American is looking for. King believes that a law that is not morally sound is no law at all. King argues that Laws are made to protect people not to degrade and punish. King also states that if negroes do not attain their rights rightfully it may lead to a much uglier action. Finally King states that Negroes have many frustrations and disappointments and that these must come out in one way or the other.

King states that there are two types of laws just and unjust. King states that a just law is one which is man made that resembles the moral law or the law of the god. King states that unjust law is one that does not agree with the moral law or the law of the god. Any law that adds value and upliftment to human personality is a just law. Any law that insults and looks down upon human personality is unjust law. King states that segregation is and should always be considered as an unjust law because it damages a human's personality. An unjust law is forced and inflicted upon a weak or minority group by a major or strong group and the minority group is forced to obey the laws. A just law is the one which a minority and a major group are willing fully themselves ready to follow. King also says that people who break unjust laws should do so openly, lovingly and with a willingness to accept the penalty.

King expected the white moderates to sympathies and understand the situation of the negroes or the black. He expected the white moderates to do something for the current situation of the negroes, he had hoped that law and order are present within the country for bringing about justice He thought that they would be able to understand that because of a very negative and horrible past the negroes behave in this manner. He expected them to respect the dignity and worth of human personality. He expected that their conscience would lead them onto a path of goodwill and justice. He also hoped that the white moderates would stop using the word wait and realize that time does not bring about positive changes and that you have to use the time to bring about changes. He believed that the white moderates would work tirelessly to bring about a good progress and future for the demoralized and angry negroes. He believed that they would try and get rid of racial discrimination. This type of behaviour from the whites would stop the negroes

calling them "incorrigible devil".

King was very disappointed with the white moderates because they simply love ordering about and suppressing their opinions and their laws upon the black or the negroes. They are less concerned with the word justice. The prefer negative peace which does not raise any opposing opinions than positive peace which symbolizes justice. He is disappointed with them too because they verbally make promises and try to take you in to confidence by saying that they believe in what u do but are not ready take any immediate action. They believe that they can set the timetable for another man's freedom. He believes that the white moderate live by time and believe that time will bring about all the positive changes required and that eventually with time negroes will attain their rights. They are simply not willing to understand the pain of the negroes. He was disappointed because they were not willing to understand or listen to the opinions of the negroes and they did not effort whatsoever in being able to bridge the differences that society had created for the negroes, but they did not do anything whatsoever.