In the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. he not only is able to justify his actions but also effectively communicate his reasons in a way that appeals to both logic and emotions. He is able to give ample references to his reasoning as support. He created pictures with his words, and more importantly I think he proved his case. This particular letter’s case was to bring light to the injustice in Birmingham, Georgia.
Of the many segregated states in the United States at the time Dr. King calls Birmingham the most segregated in the nation (Jacobus 175). He then spells out some of the injustices that took place in Birmingham such as unfair courts, brutality, and the unfair conditions that the African-American population experienced (Jacobus 175). A specific example of injustice that he makes reference to is the promise by store owners in Birmingham to integrate their businesses, a promise that was obviously broken by the white store owners (Jacobus 175). This is just one case of injustice he makes reference to early in the letter.
I think the most poignant illustration he makes of the injustices African-Americans were experiencing is not specifically talking about Birmingham, but probably rings true of it as well as in other places. It is a section in the letter where he is trying to break down the urgency of the nonviolent actions that has taken place by him and others in which he mentions how injustice has affected the community. In this section he talks about the lynching, deaths, brutality, humiliation, degradation, separation, and conditions that the African-American community have endured for far too long all cases of injustice (Jacobus 177,178). The injustices he talks about in this section probably are also injustices that rung true for Birmingham.
So when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. went to Birmingham he probably heard, seen, and possibly experienced such injustice himself as seen with the nonviolent protest. This letter was a way of addressing those who failed to see the timeliness and wise ness of the protest as they put it, but I think that this letter was able to help clarify both for them (Jacobus 173).
Works Cited
King Jr., Dr. Martin Luther “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers .Ed. Lee A Jacobus. 7th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2006. pp.173-189.
Of the many segregated states in the United States at the time Dr. King calls Birmingham the most segregated in the nation (Jacobus 175). He then spells out some of the injustices that took place in Birmingham such as unfair courts, brutality, and the unfair conditions that the African-American population experienced (Jacobus 175). A specific example of injustice that he makes reference to is the promise by store owners in Birmingham to integrate their businesses, a promise that was obviously broken by the white store owners (Jacobus 175). This is just one case of injustice he makes reference to early in the letter.
I think the most poignant illustration he makes of the injustices African-Americans were experiencing is not specifically talking about Birmingham, but probably rings true of it as well as in other places. It is a section in the letter where he is trying to break down the urgency of the nonviolent actions that has taken place by him and others in which he mentions how injustice has affected the community. In this section he talks about the lynching, deaths, brutality, humiliation, degradation, separation, and conditions that the African-American community have endured for far too long all cases of injustice (Jacobus 177,178). The injustices he talks about in this section probably are also injustices that rung true for Birmingham.
So when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. went to Birmingham he probably heard, seen, and possibly experienced such injustice himself as seen with the nonviolent protest. This letter was a way of addressing those who failed to see the timeliness and wise ness of the protest as they put it, but I think that this letter was able to help clarify both for them (Jacobus 173).
Works Cited
King Jr., Dr. Martin Luther “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers .Ed. Lee A Jacobus. 7th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2006. pp.173-189.
2 comments:
In today's society, African Americans still deal with an injust system. Its a shame that all the fighting African Americans went through eariler in life only helped a little. Good Blog
Your blog was incredibly well written, it was essay quality. Very good observations about King's practices.
Post a Comment