Injustices to African-Americans in the US, 1600’s to 1960’s In April 1963, Martin Luther King was arrested and jailed in Birmingham, Alabama, for organizing demonstrations in support of civil rights for African-Americans in the South. While in jail, he read a letter written by eight Alabama clergymen who denounced his demonstrations. King answered the clergymen in a letter that is now known as “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Four months later, in August 1963, King, now out of jail, led a huge civil rights march in Washington, D.C. where he delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. A study of American history indicates that King was justified in leading the demonstrations for three reasons. During a public statement by eight Alabama Clergymen blacks were urged to withdraw their support from Martin Luther King and his demonstrations. These men state that the demonstrations taking place could be properly pursued in the courts. In the meantime, the decisions of those courts should be peacefully obeyed. Some members of the negro community have taken it upon themselves to fix the ongoing racial problems which have been proven to be unwise and untimely. A local negro leadership has called for honest and open negotiation of racial issues in the area. It is believed that facing this issue could be accomplished if the citizens of the area meet with the knowledge and experience of the situation. “Hatred and violence have no sanction in our religious and political traditions. (Clergymen)
Eight Alabama Clergymen were expressed understanding that honest opinions in racial matters could properly be followed in the judges, but urged that decisions of those courts should in the meantime be peacefully obeyed. Responsible citizens have undertaken to work on various problems which cause racial friction and unrest. However, they confronted by a series of demonstrations. .....
On April 16, 1963, from a jail in Birmingham, Alabama, Martin Luther King Jr. composed an extensive letter to eight clergymen who condemned the timing of the civil rights movement. Although the letter was addressed to these eight clergymen, the Letter from Birmingham Jail speaks to a national audience, especially King’s “Christian and Jewish brothers”(King, 29). His peaceful but firm letter serves as a remarkably persuasive voice to an immensely chaotic mess, and is seen as a major turning point in the civil rights movement. King believes that without direct action, the full rights for African Americans could never be achieved. He defends the impatience of people in the civil rights movement, upholding that without forceful
Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested on April 12, 1963, in Birmingham, for protesting without a permit. The same day that King was arrested, a letter was written and signed by eight clergymen from Birmingham and titled “A Call for Unity”. The letter called for ending demonstrations and civil activities and indicated King as an “outsider”. On April 16, 1963, King responded to their letter with his own call, which has come to be known as his “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” King justified the nonviolent measures that sent him to jail and explained why the segregation laws against blacks in the south must be changed (356-371). At the beginning of this letter, King gives
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.
By the time of the 1963 ‘I Have a Dream’ speech at the March on Washington, King had become the voice of the various perspectives of life as a Black American. He now expressed the universal voice of all his people, and he was not afraid to use it in the pursuit of equality for Blacks (Branch, 881-3). Martin Luther King’s Birmingham campaign would prove to be the
In the Letter from Birmingham Jail, Dr. King demonstrates the need for extreme action by depicting Birmingham’s dire future if the Clergymen continue to simply wait for the city to change. He claims that without extreme action one of two possible scenarios will play out, either nothing will ever change in Birmingham and people will continue to suffer under injustice, or worse, the African American community in Birmingham will be forced to resort to violence in order to accomplish their goal of equality. In the quote “millions of Negroes will… seek solace and security in a black nationalist ideology - a development that would inevitably lead to a frightening racial nightmare,” Dr. King demonstrates the consequences of the clergymen condemning his protest by explaining that his protests are the only way for many of the African American people to work out their frustrations, and without them, the majority of the black populace in Birmingham has no way to release its
The purpose for Martin Luther king to write “Letter from Birmingham Jail” was to respond to white Alabama clergymen who before this had criticized his action saying they were “unwise and untimely.” These clergymen had published a criticism directed towards King’s organization and participation in his protest march against segregation in Birmingham. This letter is not intended to persuade these men towards supporting civil rights, but rather to demonstrate that there is an immediate need towards direct action, and also that they need to open their eyes and see the African American community’s suffering. King withal expounds the need for tension, though only through nonviolent means, a tension that will coerce society to confront the present convivial iniquity head on. King disapproves being called an outsider because of his belief that humanity is part an "inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny."
Social injustice is any form of hate, prejudice, or discrimination towards any group of people. Social Injustice can be towards any person regarding their race, religion, or gender. People often have prejudice against Black people as being poor or gang affiliated drug dealers. This is social injustice even though many African American are not what is stereotyped about them but they still face the consequences of discrimination and prejudices everyday. Unjust shootings, fatal chokings, beatings and rough treatment have all contributed to the present problem of social injustice against African Americans in the United States. In the past and recent history African Americans have experienced many social
As we just celebrated the forty months anniversary of the Black History Month, it is an important observance to commemorate the contributions and achievements of the African Americans in the American history. Historically during the Civil Rights Movement, African Americans are the most vulnerable ethnic group who suffer from injustice in the social and political spheres of influence. However, social justice advocates such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X express their criticism in their pieces of writings for the unjust treatment that these African Americans have to endure. Martin Luther King, Jr’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” is a response to a letter written by eight clergymen in which he talks about defending the nonviolent direct
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a protester and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement, greatly known for his use of nonviolent forms of demonstration. On a specific occasion, King was arrested for leading a peaceful protest as part of the Birmingham Campaign, which attempted to bring national awareness to the gruesome treatment endured by blacks. While in jail, King replies to the clergyman’s remarks of him being a foreign agitator in his “Letter from a Birmingham jail,” passionately defending the actions he took. The clergymen accused King of being an extremist, as they saw his relentless protesting and civil disobedience as a threat to a stable political and social system. In paragraphs 27-32, King attempts to persuade the
On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. gave the “I Have a Dream Speech” to a large group of civil rights marchers gathered around the Lincoln memorial in Washington DC. Martin Luther King Jr. is a great example of how displays of anger must be controlled in order to be effective and lead to good outcomes. Throughout his entire speech he appeals to the emotions of the audience. By addressing that even though the Emancipation Proclamation was signed to free the slaves, and many years later they are still not free. He is constantly reminding the people of color that they continue to be the race being segregated and discriminated by the white people. He blames the white people of being prejudice viewing
Dr. King gave his famous “I Have A Dream” speech at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in front of more than 200,000 people. He spoke of his hopes for future generations, inspiring many people. Through describing the difficulties that he and other African Americans had to face, he even changed some people's perspectives, leading to a renewed interest in the movement for equality. Another literary piece of Martin’s was titled “Letter From Birmingham Jail”. His letter was a famous argument and a response to “A Call for Unity”, which had criticised the actions of protesters and African Americans at the time. While this was a letter written only a few months before his speech, they had many similarities and differences.
During the 20th century racism became a major issue in the United States, which most attacks and accusations were against African Americans. Under the law everyone is supposed to be free, but because of the corrupt law system African Americans were victimized and treated horrendously. Retaliating against the unfair and inhumane treatment they relentlessly tried to change the system and the rights of their people. In addition to this, many civil rights activists and groups formed and fought against the system. The most evident activist of this time period is Martin Luther King Junior, engaging in many boycotts and protests he was determined to make a difference. On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in the midst of the “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom”, he gave his “I Have a Dream” speech on August 28, 1963.
Throughout the 1960s, King was involved with many civil rights boycotts and protests, assisting them to further the movement and gaining its eventual victory. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech had a huge impact as it was able to illustrate the racist issues of the time and provoke the viewers into feeling sympathy while providing
During the mid-20th Century, racism was a huge issue in the United States, prominently toward African-Americans. Blacks were free under a harsh and corrupt law system. They were victimized mercilessly with hundreds of heartless stories of hate and violence. As time went on civil rights activists and groups appeared. The most popular activist of them was Martin Luther King Jr of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Throughout the 1960s, King was in various civil rights boycotts and protests, helping to give real rights and freedom to the blacks in the south. Out of all his civil rights related efforts, the “I Have a Dream” speech, given on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963 continues to be talked about and discussed 54 years later. The speech had a massive impact as it shined a huge spotlight on the problems African Americans were facing regularly during these times. Sadly, the speech also gained hateful attention from, Kings opponents. 5 years later he was tragically assassinated.