Analysis Of The Main Statements In The Letter From Birmingham Jail

Throughout Letter from Birmingham Jail, King makes multiple statements disapproving some clergymen. King states that he is upset with them and their actions; therefore, he follows through a list of statements to explain what they have done and then addresses their concerns as well as his own. Martin Luther makes statements concerning his actions that have been questioned. Throughout the letter. he makes accounts of how being against the African American community can not only affect them. but it also affects many of the people of the community as well. Many people then and now did and do not realize that what they about others because of who they are, it makes a difference. He believes that his arrest was wrong due to him only showing his beliefs.

Martin first claims that the clergymen are now considered as “outsiders” due to the fact that he has been put in Birmingham jail for speaking his own mind. He argues that he has done nothing wrong within his beliefs. King defends his rights first to show that he knows what his rights are and that he has not technically went against anyone. King provides his own moral reasons for being at Birmingham (699). He claims that his first priority for being in Birmingham is for “injustice”. He feels as if he has been forced to work for justice, but the only thing there is actually injustice. Martin then states that the clergymen have been criticizing the protestors in with they have not looked into the rights of racism and are causing injustice for everyone that is protesting and other African Americans that are being affected by their choices (701). Martin Luther understands that rather than protests the clergymen prefer negotiations. He also states that negotiations cannot happen without protests and that also causes a “crisis” for many white business owners (704).

The protests are continuing even with King in Birmingham jail due to the fact that the clergymen are not listening. The protestors are protesting to try to get the clergymen to understand that not all problems are caused by discrimination and that many people should not care about the color of someone else. The real judgement should be based off how someone is from how they act and their personality rather than their skin color. King makes statements and references from the past as to how segregation should not be the focus of the world. He also states many references as to how there are many “privileged groups” and that there is also a way to solve a problem without the solution being lead to protesting against the problem. King states that having “privileged groups” oppose to the actions of the current situation. King also states that the African American community has waited for more than “340 years” to be recognized as human beings. He then states all the statements of abuse that have been made towards himself and the African American community. He then says that many of him and his people have suffered throughout time for their skin color and not who they really are. King explains the type of physical, mental, and verbal abuse that has been passed down throughout generations at the African American community that should not be continued today. He then claims that many people could not leave their houses without being discriminated against just by their skin color. Many children could not go to parks without being verbally abused by white people just because of how their skin color is.

King argues that the clergymen are somewhat afraid of the African American males that are not afraid to break the laws for the same rights and freedoms of white people. He does admit that the statement was absurd and how he expects the white men to follow all the laws whether they are just or unjust. While explaining just and unjust laws, he states that just laws are those that uphold human dignity, while unjust law are meant to be “degrading” to the human personality (702). He argues that unjust laws are hurting to not only the oppressed, but the oppressors as well. He defines segregation as unjust. He claims that it is a law that a majority forces the minority to follow while exempting itself from it, so it is defined as a law worth breaking. The laws are practically unjust and undemocratic. King also adds that some laws become unjust laws when the law is being misused. He states that the law that he arrested for “breaking” was a just law that was used to support the injustice of segregation. King then provides a list of allusions to support his claims.

To sum his points about just and unjust laws, he gives the example of Nazi Germany allowed for Jewish persecution. King then also addresses is that of white moderates, who have greatly disappointed him. He argues that the white moderates value “order” over “justice,” and as a result have made it easier for the injustice of segregation to continue. King states that he believes that the white moderators cannot distinguish between the nonviolent action and the violence of the oppressors. Martin Luther also claims that he is shocked as to how the clergymen treated the African Americans and that they would blame them for the violence of the segregation.

Before Kings final statements, he addresses the clergymen’s compensation of the Birmingham police officers. They had claimed that the Birmingham police were nonviolent with protestors; however, they had lied to him about it. He claims that the clergymen abused their power and that their actions are not just (709). King is upset with the clergymen and the fact they have abused their power in which they have been threatening the protestors with unjust laws. He explains that the clergymen are not fit people to have over watched the African American community. He then apologizes for the overstatements made in his letter.

I believe that Kings statements were one hundred true in every way. The clergymen did not need to be entrusted with the African American community. They had abused the power to make believe the people that what they were was wrong. In which, they were only trying to stand up for their rights and for what they truly believed in. King makes valid statements that do not only apply to then, but today as well. Many people do not realize that they can affect someone by what they say about someone else. People then had to protest for their rights to be acknowledged by people.