This quote got me thinking of how most what would be considered “great” movements in this country have been acts of civil disobedience. The majority of the country saw Abraham Lincoln, who is mentioned in the letter, as being civilly disobedient when he issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves in the southern states. It upset the poorer whites and immigrants all over the country because this increased competition for the already scarce low paying jobs. Without the Emancipation Proclamation who knows how long it would have taken African Americans to gain freedom in the country.
2. “Perhaps it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging dark of segregation to say ‘Wait.’” (King 3).
This speaks truth to the statement you never really know somebody until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes. And in most instances I highly doubt a mile would be long enough to fully grasp what an individual has gone through in their life. Human beings always seem too quick to pass judgment and therefore pass off each other when people should be more open and accepting.
3. “Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever. The yearning for freedom eventually manifests itself…” (King 7).
Throughout history we have seen this in many different situations. Some make strides in a positive direction like the civil rights movement, but others like the sanctions the United Nations pushed on Germany after World War One make strides on the negative direction, ultimately leading to World War Two. When people are backing into a corner they will go to great length to get out, or capitalize on a situation.