Preview

What Is King's Argument In Letter From Birmingham Jail

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
264 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
What Is King's Argument In Letter From Birmingham Jail
Martin Luther King Jr was a leader of the American civil right movement. He advocated for the use of nonviolent civil disobedience based on his Christian beliefs. He was arrested during a campaign against racial segregation in Birmingham, Alabama. His actions during that campaign were seen as illegal. While imprisoned there, he wrote “Letter from Birmingham Jail” to defend his position, specifically against the rejections of certain conformist church leaders. In that letter he passionately argued in favor of the use of civil disobedience to fight unjust laws. He was disappointed on how some representatives of the Christian church would blindly agree to obey the laws even if they went against Christian teachings. He defended certain extremists’
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    An Analysis Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter From Birmingham Jail
    • 254 Words
    • 2 Pages

    An Analysis Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter From Birmingham Jail

    In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote “Letter from Birmingham Jail” from jail in Birmingham, Alabama in response to a public statement issued by eight white clergyman calling his actions “ unwise and untimely”. African Americans have been waiting to have there civil rights of freedom, but the social courts has requested them not protest on the street but to take it to court. Dr. King wrote, “This wait has almost always meant never.” This is why Dr. king addresses this matter in a letter about the battle of segregation. He hopes that this letter will stop this injustice matter, and show what the African American desire. Furthermore, Dr. King had four steps to achieve his goals by collecting facts, negotiation, self-purification, and direct…

    • 254 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    "Letter from a Birmingham Jail [King, Jr.]"
    • 6921 Words
    • 18 Pages

    "Letter from a Birmingham Jail [King, Jr.]"

    While confined here in the Birmingham city jail, I came across your recent statement calling my present activities "unwise and untimely." Seldom do I pause to answer criticism of my work and ideas. If I sought to answer all the criticisms that cross my desk, my secretaries would have little time for anything other than such correspondence in the course of the day, and I would have no time for constructive work. But since I feel that you are men of genuine good will and that your criticisms are sincerely set forth, I want to try to answer your statement in what I hope will be patient and reasonable terms.…

    • 6921 Words
    • 18 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Letter From Birmingham Jail Rhetorical Analysis Essay
    • 1359 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Letter From Birmingham Jail Rhetorical Analysis Essay

    Martin Luther King Jr., born on January 15, 1929, fought for the injustices of his brothers and sisters throughout his life. While being an active activist, Martin Luther King was imprisoned to Birmingham jail due to his participation in a nonviolent demonstration against segregation and discrimination in Alabama. During his sentence, he wrote a letter, “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” to counter the criticisms of his actions from the clergymen by claiming that “An unjust law is no law at all”(par. 12), “Injustice everywhere is a threat to justice…

    • 1359 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Letter from Birmingham City Jail, Ethos, Pathos, and Logos used in King's Letter. Use of ethics, emotions, and logic.
    • 783 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Letter from Birmingham City Jail, Ethos, Pathos, and Logos used in King's Letter. Use of ethics, emotions, and logic.

    Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King wrote the "Letter from Birmingham Jail" in an exceedingly effective way. King used his intelligence, virtue, and honesty to write an appropriate reply to the criticism he received. He also used logic and emotional appeal.…

    • 783 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Justice In King's Letter From Birmingham Jail
    • 387 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Justice In King's Letter From Birmingham Jail

    In Letter from Birmingham Jail, King invites Americans everywhere to fight injustice. He declares that all are obligated to work for justice, even above the law. Justice should be protected by politics in order for all people to enjoy certain basic rights.…

    • 387 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Mr King Letter From Birmingham Jail Analysis
    • 817 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Mr King Letter From Birmingham Jail Analysis

    In a statement recently issued by yourselves concerning Mr. King’s behavior in Birmingham Alabama describing him as an outsider and extremist of his ways was inconsiderate as well as rude. Mr. King’s extremist ways, as you have put them, are an effort to better improve the physical and emotional consequences of segregation. I am writing in hopes that you might reconsider the current stance you have taken up regarding the issues at hand.…

    • 817 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Tcc History Exam
    • 866 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Tcc History Exam

    Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., wrote an open letter which became dubbed the Letter from Birmingham Jail on April 16, 1963. He had been arrested during a peaceful protest against segregation in Birmingham, Alabama. He wrote the letter in response to a statement made by eight white Alabama clergymen a few days earlier, titled "A Call For Unity," which conceded that social injustices were taking place but expressed the belief that the battle against racial segregation should be fought solely in the courts and not taken onto the streets. King wrote that "This 'Wait' has almost always meant 'Never.'" He put forth that direct actions were necessary to achieve true civil rights, and that not only is civil disobedience justified in the face of unjust laws, but also that "one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws." Martin stated he was caught in between two opposing forces one of compalancy and the other of bitterness and hatred, while standing between the two he has tried to do neither the do-nothingness or the hatred of the black nationalist, he found there is more in love and nonviolent protest. Martin also stated his disapppointment with the church and organized religion following the status quo, rather than standing and preaching love they brother and negros are our brothers, I have no despair about the future. I have no fear about the outcome of our struggle in Birmingham, even if our motives are at present misunderstood. We will reach the goal of freedom in Birmingham and all over the nation, because the goal of America is freedom…

    • 866 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    martin luther king
    • 755 Words
    • 4 Pages

    martin luther king

    In the letter Martin Luther King Jr.’s says, “I am in Birmingham because injustice is here.” His thesis is that there is injustice and injustice has seized the civil rights movement. Because of these injustices he is in the Birmingham City Jail. In his main points he explains to the clergymen his goals for these demonstrations. He writes about how protesting against segregation was justified and he makes the point that nonviolent demonstrations are necessary to end the practice of segregation.…

    • 755 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Did Martin Luther King Jr's Approach To Civil Rights
    • 539 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How Did Martin Luther King Jr's Approach To Civil Rights

    Martin Luther King Jr’s approach to civil rights was nonviolent civil disobedience protests. This meant that when they marched on Birmingham they let the police beat, release dogs on them, spray them with fire hoses and didn’t fight back. They just kept peacefully assembling and marching for their rights. He knew that if the northern media would cover the abuses they faced that it would end segregation in the south. So the march on Birmingham happened, and in front of cameras the children and young people marching through Birmingham Alabama having their rights violently violated went all around the world.…

    • 539 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    What Is King Thesis In Letter From Birmingham Jail
    • 1646 Words
    • 7 Pages

    What Is King Thesis In Letter From Birmingham Jail

    In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested and sent to jail for an “unwise and untimely” protest against how blacks were treated in Birmingham, Alabama. When in Jail he received a newspaper that had a “ Statement by Alabama Clergymen”, in the article, it stated how they need to handle the racial problems in a different manner. They never directly mentioned King’s name, but they strongly wrote how they felt about the protest. When King saw the statement, he decided to reply. His whole goal in the letter is to explain to the ministers the reasonings behind the actions that took place in Birmingham. King addresses the Clergymen in a polite and professional manner. In the beginning he sweattalkes them, he calls them “men of genuine good” and he says normally he wouldn't have time to answer their questions, but because they are good guys, King will put the time in to get back to them. He says all this to get their attention, and to get…

    • 1646 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter From Birmingham Jail
    • 629 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter From Birmingham Jail

    In April of 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested in Birmingham, Alabama. He was charged with parading without a permit. Before being arrested, he was there supporting and leading the African-American civil rights movement. King was a man of religion, education, and also a figure for the civil rights movement in the 1900s. One of the points he expresses in his letter is the difference between a just and unjust law, a morally right law compared to a morally wrong law.…

    • 629 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Martin Luther King's Letter From A Birmingham Jail
    • 1019 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Martin Luther King's Letter From A Birmingham Jail

    In April of 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. was jailed for a non-violent campaign of marches and sit-ins which had been organized to end racism and segregation in Alabama. While incarcerated a newspaper was smuggled in. This newspaper contained a statement made by various white clergy men of Alabama. Motivated, King responded to the clergy men with the now famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. In this letter King argues against segregation laws using the tenets of…

    • 1019 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Pros And Cons Of Civil Disobedience
    • 795 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Pros And Cons Of Civil Disobedience

    Martin Luther King Jr. His entire protest was founded on civil disobedience, and it proved that nonviolent actions have the power to change the course of history. The laws in place during the mid-1900s were severely racist, immoral, and unethical. King and his fellow activists decided enough was enough and peacefully fought against these laws across the south. Many were jailed for their actions, many were beaten, and some lost their lives. What they were doing was against the law, but to abide by laws that are unjust is just as bad as breaking those that are just. As King writes in his letter from the jail in Birmingham, “I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” He argues that it is the duty of every citizen to fight against unjust actions whenever they arise, and that those who do nothing are just as bad as those who commit unjust deeds. King also points out that often the institutions set up to deal with injustice are often either too slow to enact reasonable change, or are at the heart of the injustice themselves. Therefore it is the duty of the citizens to take to the streets and demand that the problem be…

    • 795 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Martin Luther King's Fight For Equality
    • 1678 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Martin Luther King's Fight For Equality

    However, after a few nonviolent protests looking for desegregation, MLK was arrested in Birmingham, AL. While in jail Martin Luther King wrote one of the most important letters he ever wrote, as a response to the Clergyman’s Call for Unity, where he described Martin Luther King as extremist. His letter, which is titled “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, perfectly applies rhetorical strategies such as his great use of Pathos and Logos in order persuade not only the people supporting segregation, but African-Americans that want to protest against segregation using violence.…

    • 1678 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Civil Rights Movement Research Paper
    • 1287 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Civil Rights Movement Research Paper

    Martin Luther King, Jr. emerged as a pivotal leader in the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. King was an advocate for civil disobedience and peaceful protest. In 1963, following his arrest during a protest in Birmingham, Alabama, Dr. King wrote “Letter from Birmingham Jail” where various sources of oppression were described along with how to combat such oppression. In the letter, Martin Luther King, Jr. explained promises made to the African Community for equality that were never met. As a result of the broken promises, Dr. King called for pressure to be put on the authority figures who instigated such oppression. Dr. King described the pressure as a “direct action” and that the pressure would force negotiation to occur. Negative emotions were in the African American Community. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote that these emotions could manifest themselves a violence, if not expressed. However, Dr. King warned against acts of violence to achieve the desired end of equality. In the letter, Martin Luther King, Jr. revealed to white leaders the racism faced by African Americans and the difficulties faced by the children of this…

    • 1287 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics