segregated city in America. There, cameras captured the tragic scene of local law enforcement seen its dogs sinking their teeth into unarmed, nonviolent Negroesif you were to But, oh! 1 On the surface, "Letter from Birmingham Jail" is intended for the Birmingham clergymen who published an open letter criticizing the actions of Dr. King and the SCLC. Knowing that a strong economic-withdrawal program would be the by product of direct action, we felt that this would be the best time to bring pressure to bear on the merchants for the needed change. That would lead to anarchy. Yes, I love the church. When the time came, he honoured his promise and came to Birmingham to support the action. We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was "legal" and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was "illegal." Why sit ins, marches and so forth? I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a "more convenient season." Abused and scorned though we may be, our destiny is tied up with America's destiny. information, whether by circumstance or choice, they have remained numb to the struggles in But the latter consistently refused to engage in good faith negotiation. Dr. King led non-violent sit But why? Instead, some have been outright opponents, refusing to understand the freedom movement and misrepresenting its leaders; all too many others have been more cautious than courageous and have remained silent behind the anesthetizing security of stained glass windows. Let me give another explanation. There are two main frames of reference in the letter. found surrounding his use of two simple, yet powerful phrases: if you and when you., 2 Repetition is the action of repeating something that has already been said or written. I doubt that you would have so warmly commended the police force if you had I'm afraid it is much too long to take your precious time. Yes, I see the church as the body of Christ. When there is no alternative, direct action such as sit-ins and marches can create what King calls a tension which will mean that a community which previously refused to negotiate will be forced to come to the negotiating table. Thus it is that I can urge men to obey the 1954 decision of the Supreme Court, for it is morally right; and I can urge them to disobey segregation ordinances, for they are morally wrong. The other is examples from American history: Abraham Lincoln (who issued the Emancipation Proclamation during the American Civil War, a century before King was writing) and Thomas Jefferson (who drafted the words to the Declaration of Independence, including the statement that all men are created equal). Frankly, I have yet to engage in a direct action campaign that was "well timed" in the view of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation. Then write 1-2 paragraphs explaining the connection (for each quote) and why you were interested in this term. mass experiences of unnecessary and cruel police brutality, to the extremely individual and There was a time when the church was very powerful--in the time when the early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In "Letter from Birmingham Jail" repetition is used numerous times, the purpose is to make certain words or phrases stand out to the reader. King announces that he will respond to their criticisms because he believes they are men of genuine good will. backgrounds of the clergymen: When you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you Having aided in this community need, we felt that our direct action program could be delayed no longer. It is true that the police have exercised a degree of discipline in handling the demonstrators. MLK referred to him because much of what Socrates taught is foundational to Western society. By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University). Like a boil that can never be cured so long as it is covered up but must be opened with all its ugliness to the natural medicines of air and light, injustice must be exposed, with all the tension its exposure creates, to the light of human conscience and the air of national opinion before it can be cured. We readily consented, and when the hour came we lived up to our promise. They are now fully aware, and as such are accountable to use their positions to do something Two were extremists for immorality, and thus fell below their environment. them slap and kick old Negro men and young boys; if you were to observe them, as they Was not Paul an extremist for the Christian gospel: "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." This is sameness made legal. Muslims, Christians, Jews, Blacks, Hence segregation is not only politically, economically and sociologically unsound, it is morally wrong and sinful. In invoking the "true ekklesia", King was calling on all people of faith, regardless of their religion or racial background, in order to work towards establishing equal rights for all people regardless of their race. So often it is an archdefender of the status quo. He wrote this letter from his jail cell after him and several of his associates were arrested as they nonviolently protested segregation in Birmingham, Alabama. Any law that uplifts human personality is just. It is unfortunate that demonstrations are taking place in Birmingham, but it is even more unfortunate that the city's white power structure left the Negro community with no alternative. The anaphora "If you were to" is meant to inspire his readers to emp . It seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored. It was written because Dr. King and his organization were receiving criticism from the local clergy in Birmingham. Direct link to CHOCOLATE's post Who is Socrates and why d, Posted 3 days ago. Direct link to Student's post What did the Hungarian re. man since the beginning of time and it is still here today. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. I cannot join you in your praise of the Birmingham police department. Letter from Birmingham Jail: Repetition BACK NEXT This guy knew how to write a speech. The nations of Asia and Africa are moving with jetlike speed toward gaining political independence, but we still creep at horse and buggy pace toward gaining a cup of coffee at a lunch counter. A Letter from Birmingham Jail: To You In April of 1963, Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. found himself in solitary confinement in Birmingham, Alabama. It is certainly still poignant today. They have carved a tunnel of hope through the dark mountain of disappointment. Something within has reminded him of his birthright of freedom, and something without has reminded him that it can be gained. Isn't this like condemning Socrates because his unswerving commitment to truth and his philosophical inquiries precipitated the act by the misguided populace in which they made him drink hemlock? 4 He rejects this argument, pointing out that this kind of logic (if such it can be called) can be extended to all sorts of scenarios. The use of ethos is used right off the bat when he starts his letter. If I have said anything that understates the truth and indicates my having a patience that allows me to settle for anything less than brotherhood, I beg God to forgive me. While confined here in the Birmingham city jail, I came across your recent statement calling my present activities "unwise and untimely." But I must confess that I am not afraid of the word "tension." Direct link to connoroneill2468's post Was anything adressed aft, Posted 3 years ago. They have languished in filthy, roach infested jails, suffering the abuse and brutality of policemen who view them as "dirty nigger-lovers." Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. Lamentably, it is an historical fact that privileged groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily. Now, there is nothing wrong in having an ordinance which requires a permit for a parade. You may use it as a guide or sample for writing your own . Let us consider a more concrete example of just and unjust laws. Yours for the cause of Peace and Brotherhood, Posted 3 years ago. Human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability; it comes through the tireless efforts of men willing to be co workers with God, and without this hard work, time itself becomes an ally of the forces of social stagnation. In Letter from Birmingham Jail, King answers some of the criticisms he had received from the clergymen in their statement, and makes the case for nonviolent action to bring about an end to racial segregation in the South. We had no alternative except to prepare for direct action, whereby we would present our very bodies as a means of laying our case before the conscience of the local and the national community. Socrates was a Greek Philosopher who lived even before Jesus. But these frames of reference also establish a common ground between both him and the clergymen he addresses, and, more widely, with many other Americans who will read the open letter. I commend you, Reverend Stallings, for your Christian stand on this past Sunday, in welcoming Negroes to your worship service on a nonsegregated basis. Sometimes a law is just on its face and unjust in its application. His emotional appeal seeks to tear down the wall of composure built by these eight in Birmingham, Alabama. Martin Luther Kings open letter written from Birmingham Jail is one of the most famous open letters in the world. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a letter from his jail cell in Birmingham after he was imprisoned during a march for civil rights. A just law is a man made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. For there is the more excellent way of love and nonviolent protest. Interesting Literature is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.co.uk. Dr. King often used repetition and parallel construction to great emotional effect when he spoke. Nourished by the Negro's frustration over the continued existence of racial discrimination, this movement is made up of people who have lost faith in America, who have absolutely repudiated Christianity, and who have concluded that the white man is an incorrigible "devil.". So I have not said to my people: "Get rid of your discontent." More and more I feel that the people of ill will have used time much more effectively than have the people of good will. If his repressed emotions are not released in nonviolent ways, they will seek expression through violence; this is not a threat but a fact of history. What did a clergyman do to get arrested? We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive. It was here, sitting in a bleak barred cell Direct link to Andrew's post Yes, it was unfair. negative effects. Whitesall experience fatherhood. And yet little by little, it becomes clear that Dr. King intends this statement for a much larger audience. I have beheld the impressive outlines of her massive religious education buildings. It is as if he grabs you by the. I am grateful to God that, through the influence of the Negro church, the way of nonviolence became an integral part of our struggle. Even so, I am sure that, had I lived in Germany at the time, I would have aided and comforted my Jewish brothers. In April of 1963, Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. found himself in solitary confinement But such an ordinance becomes unjust when it is used to maintain segregation and to deny citizens the First-Amendment privilege of peaceful assembly and protest. Lines 14-43: King provides three different types of reasons in his letter to justify his presence in Birmingham: Organizational reasons, religious or historical reasons, and moral reasons. 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