“Letter from Birmingham Jail,” by Martin Luther King Jr., was written in response to the objections of several white clergymen. The contents of the letter explain King’s actions, and tries to clarify and explain that the protest for desegregation was necessary and by no means untimely.
In his essay, King attacks the evils of segregation. Segregation is believed to be politically, economically, and sociologically unsound, as well as morally wrong and sinful. The letter states that segregation distorts the soul and damages the personality. King believes that any law that degrades human personality is an unjust law. The evil of segregation rears its head in the bombing of Negro homes and churches, the treatment of Negroes in court, and in the police brutality toward Negroes.
King feels that it is necessary for a non-violent approach to be taken, in order for the lines of communication to open between the town and the people. Through non-violent action, crisis is formed and communities are forced to confront the issue. The issue can no longer be ignored if there is such direct action. King strongly believes that the situation needs to be discussed rather than left as is.
King is greatly disappointed with the white church and its leadership. He expected all churches to unite and support the protest for desegregation, and was hurt when the white churches rejected that idea. King believes that integration is morally right, and all men are brothers in the sight of God, regardless of skin color. The white church is a disappointment because it has become lax; it has conformed to the opinion of the white moderate. The white moderate believes in ‘order’ rather than justice. The moderate lives by the concept of time, and constantly advises the Negro to ‘wait for a better season’. It is the silence of both the moderate and the church that King is so disappointed in. King believes that the world will not only have to repent for the words and actions of the bad people, but for the silence of the good people as well.
The Term Paper on Black Churches Christianity Women King Church
Status of Women The leading Black denominations are usually distinguished by a large female membership within the church, but a predominately male leadership. In the Baptist church, the question of whether women should be in leadership has been for the most part neglected. The church has fails to take a definite stand on the issue, leaving the problem to be resolved by individual churches. ...
King addresses the argument of the movement being untimely. King states that Negroes have been waiting for over three hundred years for their constitutional and God-given rights. King believes that it is reasonable for one who has never felt the pains of segregation to say ‘wait’, but for one who has waited their entire life to be considered equal, time has been delayed for too long. King believes that justice too long delayed is justice denied. Freedom must be demanded by the oppressed, because the oppressor never voluntarily gives it.
King believes that the message of integration is universal. He believes that we, as human beings, can not afford to live with the ‘outside agitator’ idea. He believes that anyone who lives in the U.S can not be considered an outsider, regardless of race, color, creed or religion.
‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’ attempts to make the clergymen understand King’s urge for desegregation. King tries to demonstrate the purpose behind the protest and its urgency, by various examples and allusions that are intertwined throughout the letter. King’s intention was too erase the ‘clouds of racial prejudice’, and bring some form of understanding and brotherhood to communities throughout the United States.
