Comparison Essay: Letter from a Birmingham Jail and Resistance to Civil Government Martin Luther King Jr. and Henry David Thoreau both write about why everyone should have the right to disobey authority if there is social injustice taking place. Martin Luther King Jr. tells his audience that the laws of the government against blacks are not right and that civil disobedience should be used as an instrument of freedom just like how Henry David Thoreau says its the responsibility of the citizens to
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Dr. Martin Luther King‚ Jr. ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- Early life and education For more details on this topic‚ see Martin Luther King‚ Jr. authorship issues. Martin Luther King‚ Jr. was born on January 15‚ 1929‚ in Atlanta‚ Georgia‚ the middle child of the Reverend Martin Luther King‚ Sr. and Alberta Williams King.[5] King Jr. had an older sister‚ Willie Christine King‚ and a younger brother‚ Alfred Daniel Williams King.[6]:76 King
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Martin Luther King Jr. was a powerful man with good intentions for civil right. He wrote an extensive letter to eight clergymen who condemned the timing of the civil rights movement on April 16‚ 1963‚ from a jail in Birmingham‚ Alabama. Even though the letter was addressed to the clergymen‚ the message was geared towards a larger audience‚ especially King’s “Christian and Jewish brothers” (King). King believes that without direct action‚ the rights for African Americans could never be achieved. He
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Clergymen‚ While confined here in the Birmingham City Jail‚ I came across your recent statement calling our present activities "unwise and untimely." Seldom‚ if ever‚ do I pause to answer criticism of my work and ideas … But since I feel that you are men of genuine good will and your criticisms are sincerely set forth‚ I would like to answer your statement in what I hope will be patient and reasonable terms. I think I should give the reason for my being in Birmingham‚ since you have been influenced by
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Movement‚ Martin Luther King chose to take that role to solve the unjust oppression that was occurring. King possessed the characteristics of a great leader; believing in equality‚ non-violent civil disobedience and a strong call to action. Through these‚ King was able to be a successful leader to the oppressed and had a strong influence across the world. The drive of the Civil Rights Movement was the segregation and prejudice that minorities faced. King writes “A Letter from Birmingham Jail” expressing
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King starts his essay with addressing that he never usually answers statements that criticize his work. He goes on to state what role he plays in the south and why he is in Birmingham. He is there because Birmingham is the most segregated city in America and injustice is most prevalent there. He writes that nations such as Asia and Africa are moving forward with gaining political independence‚ but America was still moving with incredibly slow speed trying to obtain the same goal. There are examples
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Martin Luther King Jr. was a well articulated man who was full of genuine knowledge about the world and his people. In his letter “Letter from Birmingham Jail” he justifies civil disobedience as an answer to social injustice. In hope to convince the clergymen who questioned his movement‚ King Jr. forms many strong arguments using rhetorical devices such as metaphoric relations and allusions. Social injustice and unjust laws was an important component of King’s letter. He argues that breaking an
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King’s Letter from Birmingham While in Jail for peaceful protesting for civil rights‚ Martin Luther King Jr. wrote‚ Letter from Birmingham Jail. He wrote it to a group of clergymen who did not support his civil rights movement in order to try and gain their support. King adopts a tone of controlled anger in order to create a logical yet emotional argument. When talking about the suffering of his people‚ Kings tone holds restrained anger. King displays that; “it is easy for those who have never
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Martin Luther King is a well known‚ inspiring man‚ to all cultures of the world. King was and still is one of the most influential heroes. King ’s views and beliefs‚ which were similar to the non-violent ideas of Gandhi‚ helped African Americans through the 50 ’s and 60 ’s obtain the rights and liberties that was their birth right. King faced many obstacles on his quest like jail and even assassination attempts. Despite these obstacles‚ he became a successful leader during the Civil Rights Movement
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Smith‚ Jessica October 16‚ 2012 Moral Decisions In life there are always either negative or positive consequences when an action is made. In Martin Luther King Jr.’s essay “Letter from Birmingham Jail‚” he evaluates how one can advocate breaking some laws and obeying others. The reason it is possible to do such a thing is because there are two different types of laws‚ just and unjust. Depending on one’s morals‚ it can be morally right to advocate breaking some laws and obeying others
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