Analysis Of Martin Luther King And Lewis And The Civil Rights Movement

“I doubt that you would so quickly commend the policemen if you were to observe their ugly and inhumane treatment of Negros here in the city jail; if you were to watch them push and curse old Negro men and young boys; if you were to observe them, as they did on two occasions, refused to give us food because we wanted to sing our grace together.” (King, Jr., n.d)

Martin Luther King jr. was one of the most influential persons of the 20th Century. He is the father of the modern civil rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is recognized around the world as a symbol of freedom as well as peace. King practiced everything that he preached, he did not preach or speak values that he himself did not follow. He established himself as a pastor that was not afraid of hard work, guiding the middle-class congregation to public service. For example, Peake, Thomas R. author of "Martin Luther King, Jr.” states, “He encouraged his parishioners to help the needy and to be active in organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)”. I think that kings motivation

Gandhi, King, and Mandela each fought for their causes with a method that was very rarely used but even less rarely successful. Their efforts at peaceful protest without retaliation to attacks were successful in overthrowing trans-continental rule and ending segregation of races. Gandhi transformed the idea of non-violence into a way to fight for freedom and justice which would ultimately end in success and

In “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. resolutely responds to eight clergymen who question his methods of protest against segregation in Birmingham, Alabama. Specifically, in paragraphs 12-14, Dr. King explains why his protests are indeed being done in a timely manner to obtain the “constitutional and God-given rights” (A Portable Anthology, page 207) that Africans have been restricted of for over 340 years. Dr. King’s argument, combined with his strategic use of rhetorical devices to enhance it, helps create a palpable feeling of understanding that captivates the audience into seeing America through his vision.

Martin Luther King Jr. also seeks to further his point logically by explaining to the people of Birmingham that most places in the United States aren’t segregated to the extent that Birmingham is. He also makes a point to say Birmingham’s “ugly record of police brutality is known in every section of the country” and that “it’s unjust treatment of Negroes in the courts is a notorious reality“ (King 233). King also states “there have been more unsolved bombings in Negro homes and churches in Birmingham than any city in this nation” (King 233). By making the statements that no other city treats African Americans as badly as Birmingham and that the injustice that is taking place in Birmingham is a reality that everyone throughout the country is aware of, King

African American people have come a long way from the illiterate slaves, who were once picking cotton in fields, to powerful political leaders. A prime example would be President Barack Obama, the first African American president of the United States of America. But first we must ask ourselves, how did this occur? Who lead African Americans to better living standards? Civil rights leaders, such as Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, and Rosa Parks, just to name a few. However, among these great names in history, there is one that stands out, and that man is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King gave hope to those in need with his awe inspiring sermons he performed at the church his grandfather founded. He changed foes to

To be reliable means to be dependable. For a website to be reliable, it needs to present facts or issues in an unbiased manner; we need to be able to depend on the information found on the site. Some websites are better at that than others. Martin Luther King, Jr.: A True Historical Examination looks like a reliable resource for students researching Martin Luther King, Jr., but the site lacks the objectivity of a similar site, the Seattle Times’ website, Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement, making it unreliable.

The only way for transformation and ultimate character reformation is to go through Hell. On the other side of being tested to your limits, the potential for the man or woman you could be shines through and becomes who you are. John Lewis was a man that went through things everyday people would think are unimaginable in order to transform into who he is. There were no comfort zones for this man, and he came out the other side so much better for it. John Lewis had many influential events throughout his life that made him want to make a change; the ones that stand out the most are listening to Martin Luther King’s speech over the radio, his trip to Buffalo with his uncle, and his first arrest.

Not all children are born into the perfect situation, some children are born into a drug oriented and gang related family. “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.” This a powerful quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. how we can benefit a student’s life. The Giving Children a Mulligan in Life interest group would be a locally funded group in Atlanta which would teach life lessons through the game of golf in a fun and interactive way. “Giving Children a Mulligan in Life” would help with the record high levels of dropouts in this city. Certainly with Atlanta having one of the highest dropout rates in not just Georgia, but in United States at 59.1% with an 8% rise in the last two years reported by the Georgia’s Department of Education (2014) is more than enough of a reason for this group to exist.

In “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a response to clergymen defending his actions that placed him in a jail in Birmingham, Alabama. King did not respond to all the criticism that crossed his desk, but this time King felt he was compelled to respond. This obligation King felt was due in part to men with good will and intentions stating that his actions were “unwise and untimely” (Pg. 835). King’s purpose in writing “Letter from Birmingham Jail” was to defend the strategy of nonviolent direct action in Birmingham and to justify the process and characteristics needed to attain the goals of both nonviolent direct action and civil disobedience in a just manner.

“In any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self purification; and direct action. We have gone through all these steps in Birmingham. There can be no gainsaying the fact that racial injustice engulfs this community. Birmingham is probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States. Its ugly record of brutality is widely known. Negroes have experienced grossly unjust treatment in the courts. There have been more unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches in Birmingham than in any other city in the nation. These are the hard, brutal facts of the case. On the basis of these conditions, Negro leaders sought to negotiate with the city

King begins his response by stating “I am in Birmingham because injustice is here”. Taking a stand for the horrid crimes being committed against Black people, King repudiates the notion of an untimely act, that ultimately stands for justice (500-03, 3-13). Policeman maliciously killing, barbarous mobs, and mass poverty is the every day reality of the Negro American. Martin Luther King Jr. portrays African American suffering, while simultaneously acknowledging the solutions to that suffering. He argues that we are morally responsible to disobey unjust laws and that by taking a stance against them, we are progressing towards equality (504, 15-16).

The struggle of how to effectively cope with racism has haunted those of color for generations. There are many means of approach for this prominent issue. One can simply overlook the problem; another can choose to take up violent measures and seek a public outcry for revolution. Some may employ a non-violent course of action. Brent Staples’ essay piece “Just Walk By: Black Men and Public Space” and Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” clearly differ in their stances on how to seek a resolve. Staples’ quote, “I learned to smother the rage I felt at so often being taken for a criminal. Not to do so would surely have led to madness,”(397) advocates a more submissive and defensive means of coping with racism. In contrast, Martin

The Negro community has waited over 300 years to achieve equal constitutional rights. Martin Luther King who was their voice and their leader, was invited in 1963 to Birmingham, Alabama, to help assist with a nonviolent direct action campaign. The unjust segregation taking place in the city of Birmingham needed immediate attention. In spite of, King’s efforts to negotiate with the local and national communities as

While in Birmingham City Jail, Martin Luther King wrote a letter in response to some fellow priests who felt that his actions were “unwise and untimely” (King). Throughout this letter his long road of struggle to racial freedom and the actions and words that are fueling the fight are outlined. In his letter, Martin Luther King claimed, “the goal of America is freedom”. Written into the Declaration of Independence is the idea that all men are created equal, but many feel robbed of their freedom. Movements such as Martin Luther King’s fight for civil rights and the recent Black Lives Matter campaign show us that America does not treat everyone freely. Martin Luther King and Black Lives Matter take different approaches towards the same