There has been a lot of change since the time Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote his famous Letter from a Birmingham Jail compared to the social issues of today’s American society. Back in the 1960s, society was a forced set of rules and social correctness. Unfortunately, this politeness did not apply to any segment of culture except white society. It was a hard battle for African Americans to win equal rights against a society, which acted polite, but was actually racist and suppressant to everyone, who did not fit in to their accepted group. Actually, the Civil Rights Movement demanded the respect and acceptance of every distinctive group in America, which we should be proud of. While the Civil Rights Movement won this battle, now history seems to be …show more content…
During the Civil Rights Movement groups such as the KKK claimed all blacks were out of line and stereotyped them as causing all the problems in society. Now, groups such as Black Lives Matter claim that white police officers are out of line and causing all the problems in their neighborhoods. There is no difference in these view. Both are wrong because it groups people together without seeing each person as a separate human being. It is inappropriate to believe that if someone is black they are up to no good, and just like believing if someone is white they are automatically a racist. Dr. King Jr. would never have promoted this thinking because he wanted everyone to be considered their own person and be valued as a human being without labeled by the color of their skin. He recognized that “Now is the time to make Justice a reality for all of God’s children” (King). If we are all in the same family, racism cannot exist. Then the Civil Rights Movement should be there to support any and every minority group that is being attacked because that was the dream of Martin Luther King
When it comes to racism, any person of any skin color or ethnic background can commit the immoral act of racism. However, as shown in Dr. King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” it is often African Americans who have prejudices held against them. This is true today as well as around 55 years ago when “Letter” was written. King’s response letter to the critiques of eight clergymen was able to assume “a multitude of perspectives.”(Patton 1) Dr. King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” is effective at convincing the audience of the urgency and necessity of the Civil Rights Movement because he uses his own credibility as a Reverend, addressing the religious men and others of the white majority who do not believe his cause is justified, and
Every writer needs an inspiration to craft a brilliant literary piece. Whether this inspiration is tangible or intangible, it is still necessary. Some forms of inspiration come as passionate love while others appeal as injustice. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail" was a response to "A Call for Unity" by eight white clergymen. His inspiration for writing the letter was the clergymen's unjust proposals and the letter allowed him to present his rebuttal. Martin Luther King Jr. effectively crafted his counter argument by first directly addressing his audience, the clergymen, and then using logos, pathos, and ethos to refute his opponent's statements and present his own perspective.
:"Letter from Birmingham Jail" is a powerful piece of writing that graces the writings by Martin Luther. Part of the power lies in the use of rhetorical devices such as ethos, logos, and pathos in the letter. Luther used these stylistic devices and literary approaches to express his message, intention and express the mood of the letter making a masterpiece like no other letters before.
The letter here seems to serve several purposes. First, it is consistent with his ultimate goal of justifying his case as in the name of justice. He does not want to confirm the deeply selected fear of his audience - that the black movement is an extremist set that will engender violence. Thus, by using restraint, he receives a sympathetic hearing, to which he then declares his proud embrace of extremism and tension. There are times when he distinguishes himself and his reason from this of his opponents, especially in terms of race. Nevertheless, it mostly says that all people are responsible for everyone in this world, an idea that would not be as effective if the tone of the argument was too fiery and confrontational.
A long time ago before he had a "dream", Martin Luther King Jr., taught many minorities how to be brave and soldier on through the words of God. He made him self aware of religion and politics in order to ensure he could lead the people to triumph through peace showing he was educated, knowing what needed to be done in order to help fix segregation. His article "Letter from Birmingham Jail," proved that though he was such a strong figure in American society many had no idea he was way more to American history and segregation other than his I had a dream speech. He was revered in American Society because he saw the need to be the change that society at the time needed. Through his vast knowledge of religion, politics and the people
During Martin Luther King Jr.’s campaign for equal rights, the harassment, beating and killing of African Americans happened on a daily basis. Every member of the white community saw the inequality and brutality, but no one stepped between the African Americans and the bigoted white mob who viewed themselves as higher beings. In his Letter from Birmingham Jail, King expresses his disappointment in the Christian Church for sitting by and even condemning the plight of the African Americans, but taking no action when they had the ability to invoke a change in society. This power could have stemmed from the shared faith in God being the only unifying factor in a time of segregation. If the Church had cast aside its divisions between black and white
Martin Luther King in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” argues that “a just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law” (110). King believes that God creates man in his own image, and for that reason King dedicated his life to fight for the equality of all American, and for the civil rights. According to King unfair laws have never had any presence of a single gain in civil rights without legal determination or nonviolent pressure. The support of some laws causes people much displeasure with the constitutional law surrounding abortion. King states the four stages of protesting injustices to black people, which were: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist, negotiation, self-purification, and direct action. These same principles should be applied to protect the babies that have no voice simply because the baby has yet to be born. Anti-abortion protests has been effective because protesters have influenced changes in some state laws which also has created awareness on the topic and has even get more people saying the unborn is a baby instead of a fetus.
During the course of living human being are subjected to many controversial arguments and ethical stations. Education in concept of ethical reasoning and in the fundamentals of the principles are important for one to be skilled in ethical reasoning. Ethical reasoning is a very important element in human nature of living either professionally or individually. Ethical reasoning offers critics with the capability to represent viewpoints, ideas and make judgement. Moreover ethical reasoning enable critics’ to consciously give examination for them to reach a solution that does not harm anybody else. Ethical reasoning can be defined as arguing the wrong and the right of human behavior.
Letter from a Birmingham Jail” is Martin Luther King Jr. response to several white clergymen who previously criticized the Southern Christian Leadership Conference protest in Birmingham Alabama. He argues how segregation in South is morally unjust and has systemically oppressed African Americans for over 300 years. The only way to fight this ongoing injustice is to create tension in the community. The clergymen disapprove of this method and calls for him to be patience instead of being radical. He responds by saying that this level of tension is needed and takes the term extremist as a compliment. Martin Luther King Jr. says in this argument: “the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we
Martin Luther King Jr. discusses the advantages and purposes for his theory of nonviolent direct action in his Letter From Birmingham City Jail. He shows four basic steps that must be taken to achieve nonviolent action. They include 1) collection of facts to determine whether injustices are alive; 2) negotiation; 3) self-purification; and 4) direct action. Each of these steps will be explained as part of King's argument later in this essay. The main purpose of a nonviolent campaign is to force any community to confront a problem rather than refuse to negotiate or face a specific issue. In the letter, King discusses his group's reasons for coming to Birmingham.
Throughout history, there have been many significant documents and speeches that enlighten and inform us on what is and was happening during those times. Abraham Lincoln’s speech, The Perpetuation of our Political Institutions, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s Letter from Birmingham Jail are two important pieces of history. In Lincoln’s speech he speaks about the dangers of slavery in the United States and warned everybody that people who disrespected American laws could destroy the United States. On the other hand, Martin Luther King Jr. defended the strategy of nonviolent resistance to racism, and argued that people have a moral responsibility to break unjust laws. Based on these facts, Martin Luther King Jr does not agree with Lincoln’s counsel.
The Civil Rights development is a social development that went for equivalent rights for minorities. Martin Luther King Jr. assumed a critical part in the Civil Rights Movement, and his methodology was all through peace. Rather than savagery he utilized strategies, for example, boycotting and common insubordination keeping in mind the end goal to get balance and equity for ethnic minorities. Tragically he didn't live long to see his dream come , for he was killed not long after. Obviously the United States has made considerable progress from that point forward, however that does not mean prejudice and segregation has reached an end. Numerous trust that since we have a Black president that it must imply that bigotry is before. When we analyze
The Civil Rights movement has been through a long battle fighting discrimination and inequality starting in 1619 when the first slaves were brought to America. Since then African Americans have fought to have rights and to be treated equal. In this day and age, some of us take for granted the rights we have as citizens of the United States. Back then colored people and women couldn’t vote or own property in their own name. A lot of the southern states wanted to keep slavery going on even though it was thought to be immoral because they profited from the agricultural labor that slaves would provide. The northern region was in disgust with what was happening in the south, and they thought that something had to be done. It would take many years
The Civil Rights Movement was an ongoing struggle for equality and social justice.It took place mainly during the 1950s and 1960s. It helped blacks gain equal rights under the law (“Civil Rights Movement”). Although gaining equal rights, it didn’t help them end discrimination and prejudice attitudes. In the Deep South the hate and prejudice just grew stronger. This hate inspired events such as the bombing at 16th St. Baptist Church, the attacks during the Selma Marches, and the struggle to integrate Central High School. All of these events helped the movement keep going, it helped people start talking and taking action. Though the attitudes of the whites in the South were wrong, cruel and hateful, the attitude being given to them was peaceful,
As the years went on racism began to become more hateful and people of color could not stand by and watch. In 1954 African Americans started a movement called The Civil Rights Movement, which would last for over ten years and make a huge impact in society forever. The Civil Rights Movement was a movement that was started because of inequality for African Americans. Blacks wanted equal rights and opportunities as whites had (nationalhumanitiescenter.org). “Much of our memory of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s is embodied in dramatic photographs, newsreels, and recorded speeches, which America encountered in daily papers and the nightly news” (nationalhumanitiescenter.org). During this time The Civil Rights Movement was depicted as dangerous and complete chaos, which was exactly what it was. Blacks created peaceful protest to stand up for what they believed in and they wanted others on their side, that weren’t African American. “Martin Luther King Jr. and his allies had no interest in whether John F. Kennedy felt for black people's plight "in his heart," as the Black Lives Matter questioner put it to Hillary Clinton in August” (galegroup.com). The purpose of the movement was to gain equal rights as everyone else and as long as they could get people of white skin on their side, they did not care about their beliefs deep down. Today racism has developed from its early stages and seems not to be as serious as it was but it is still alive and