Martin Luther King's Letter From Birmingham Jail

Words: 431

Pages: 2

Open Document

The two values I choose from the "Letters from Birmingham Jail" were civil disobedience, unjust law and a just law.

Martin Luther King is arrested and jailed during anti-segregation protests in Birmingham, Alabama. There he writes "Letter from Birmingham Jail," which advocated nonviolent civil disobedience. One of the greatest letters ever written. After being jailed in Birmingham Ala. Dr. King responds to 8 clergymen and preachers who criticized his civil disobedience. In “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” Dr. King, defending civil disobedience, cited Augustine an unjust law is no law at all and Aquinas who defined an unjust law as a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law. Said Dr. King, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. …show more content…
I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is, in reality, expressing the highest respect for the law. Civil disobedience is not an attention-seeking stunt but is a measured response to unjust laws and systems. It's an Interesting piece because moral law and civil disobedience can be tricky and complicated issues, but I'd agree that Dr. King was enlightened in much of his thinking. I admire Martin Luther King Jr. for being such a champion of civil rights, an advocate for justice and equality, and a genuinely inspired

Martin Luther King's Letter From A Birmingham Jail

meaning of living the good life is to live life respecting and developing positive relationships with others. After reading Martin Luther King’s, Letter from a Birmingham Jail, and the Mike Webster Sports Injury Series, I was able to identify exactly how not to live the good life. The white clergymen from Martin Luther King’s, Letter from a Birmingham Jail, and Mike Webster from the Mike Webster Sports Injury Series, displayed through their actions what it is like to not live the good life. The actions…

Words 1181 - Pages 5

Dr. Martin Luther King's Letter From Birmingham Jail

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lived in the South when segregation was an integral part of everyday life. White males would use African American people as slaves on plantations, houses, factories, etc. In response to the horrific acts committed by White people, King decided to change the operations of the South. Most people associate King as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and head of the Civil Rights Movement (800). As a result, Dr. King organized and lead marches, sit ins…

Words 590 - Pages 3

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

With any great social movement comes its accompanying literature. In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. led highly publicized demonstrations in Birmingham that received criticisms from local clergymen. Ultimately, King was arrested in Birmingham for not having a permit to parade. From the cell that he was jailed in, King responded by writing the epitome of what the Civil Rights Movement stood for: the “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” King justifies the civil rights demonstrations because of the fact that…

Words 1735 - Pages 7

Analysis Of Martin Luther King's Letter From Birmingham Jail

would be viewed as boneheads. The clergy is being viewed like those who don't believe the earth is round because they are stubborn and unfair when it comes to the freedom and justice of all people, no matter their skin color. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail” used emotional appeal that made his readers feel the plight of African Americans because he used moving examples of the problems African Americans dealt with. Dr.King used the emotional appeal to get his readers to feel…

Words 671 - Pages 3

Analysis Of Martin Luther King's Letter From A Birmingham Jail

In Martin Luther King Jr’s. Letter from a Birmingham Jail, King provides strong philosophical arguments to show the clergymen why the demonstration in Birmingham was necessary, well thought out, and fair because of their God given right to have the same liberties as white men. King contemplates the topics of just and unjust laws, civil disobedience, and direct action using personal and theological example to support his thesis. King’s first uses the topic of just and unjust laws to demonstrate why…

Words 950 - Pages 4

An Analysis Of Martin Luther King's Letter From A Birmingham Jail

Martin Luther King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” explores a couple of big ideas such as race and justice. However, from this excerpt, King closely looks at justice in the United States at the time of the letter. To begin with, King explains why he is in the city of Birmingham to the citizens. He notices how there is injustice in the city, which is why he came to Birmingham to express his opinion and stand up for others. King believes that “whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly”…

Words 376 - Pages 2

Martin Luther King's Ethos In Letter From Birmingham Jail

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a prominent leader of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. He was a gifted speaker and his non-violent approach to protest gained a lot of traction. A famed orator, he wrote the famous “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” in response to the “A Call for Unity” published by Clergy after a march in Birmingham. His letter was a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement, and it reached into the hearts of many people. One of the reasons why his letter was so potent and still…

Words 1172 - Pages 5

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

Despite the fact that at first started for a particular reason, the letter that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. composed while detained in Birmingham at last tended to general inquiries of freedom and inequality. In "Letter From Birmingham Jail", King argues that the laws of the segregated south are "unreasonable" and in this manner ought not be acknowledged or followed. He clarifies the contrast between God's laws and uncalled for, man-made laws made to oppress the black race, and how it is his "obligation"…

Words 709 - Pages 3

Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King's Letter From A Birmingham Jail

Civil rights activist, Martin Luther King, Jr., in his letter, Letter from a Birmingham Jail, illustrates his disapproval of segregation in the United States and why it needs to end. King's argument comes about from reading fellow clergymen's letter to him. He showcases many different tones throughout, going from assertive to optimistic, but still grasps the audience's attention through his use of rhetorical techniques. In the beginning of his letter, King uses polysyllabic language, such as ".…

Words 402 - Pages 2

Prejudice And Discrimination In Martin Luther King's Letter From Birmingham Jail

In Martin Luther King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail, King essentially discusses the prejudice and discriminations that the African American people faced during the times of segregation. He starts off his letter by stating the reasoning for him being in Alabama was that he came to protest against the unjust treatment of the African Americans living there. He had hoped that through this nonviolent protest, would come some form of negotiation on banning segregation, and have African Americans be treated…

Words 398 - Pages 2