Mlk- Case Study Essay

Submitted By Adamlegend1
Words: 1280
Pages: 6

Adam Odomore
Mary Perna
English 1310. 006 November 28, 2012
Let Freedom Reign The fight for freedom and justice affects us all, regardless of our race, sex or social- economical background. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who is author of the “Letter from Birmingham city jail”, writes about the struggle for equality brotherhood, and justice. Dr. King being one of the main leaders of the civil rights movement (1950’s-1960’) and a champion of non-violent resistance, was always at the very front partaking in the boycotts and marches that took place all over America. As described by Dr. King, Birmingham, Alabama “was probably the most segregated city in America”, (Letter from Birmingham City Jail 204 (Letter). Dr. King’s mission in Birmingham led to his arrest and the writing of his famous letter in reply to the clergy men of Alabama who were the first to write him while in jail, (Carson). Dr. King’s ultimate goal for is to see every man woman equal, and free creating brotherhood and universality through the use of non- violence, (King). Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was a great leader and his leadership came through his education and upbringing. Most of the males in Dr. King’s family tree were Baptist church Ministers. In his early years he attends the famous Booker T. Washington High School, and then goes to Morehouse College, where he studies Sociology. Attending Seminary school after his graduation; eventually receiving a Doctorate for Philosophy from the Boston University School of Theology, (Washington). Dr. King’s involvement with the civil Right movement happens during Rosa Parks and the Montgomery bus boycott. Dr. King decides to vindicate the name of Rosa Parks and that was how the civil rights movement was born, (Puckett). He was also known as the founding father of the Southland Christian Leadership Conference; a group that is made up of black churches to organize non-violent campaigns such as boycotts, economic sanctions, and marches, (Letter 203, 204).
The South at that time was really segregated place. There were lots of injustices done towards black people to the extent of their houses being bombed, (Carr). Police dogs and high-pressure hose were being released on children protesting (Carson). Dr. King receives an invitation to come to Birmingham, Alabama to lead a march protesting against the segregation and unjust laws, after honoring the invitation; he was arrested for violating the anti-protest restriction. When he was in jail, he receives a letter from the Clergy men of Alabama, who claiming that Dr. King’s decision to protest was “Unwise and Untimely”, (Letter, 203). Dr. King writes back to the clergy men and his letter was purposefully and ultimately addressed to a national audience.
Dr. King writes his letter with the purpose of preaching freedom, equality, brotherhood and universality. He also writes about the the segregation and violence the Negroes were facing such as “lynching, beating, kicking, even cruel and unusual punishments” (Letter, 207).Dr. King’s "letter from Birmingham Jail" strives to validate need for non-violent direct actions, which according to Dr. Kings article titled “Non-violent and Racial Justice”, “are merely to awaken a sense of moral shame in the opponent, but winning his friendships and understanding”, (King). Dr. King went to Birmingham to lead a march in an attempt to end segregation while pushing for equality using nonviolent direct actions; and his reasons for using this method was to prove that “love is a the most durable power” (King), while showing the difference between just and unjust laws.
Dr. King’s fought for the end segregation in Birmingham. And in Birmingham those days, segregation laws were very norm. The Negroes were not allowed to use the community amenities, such as “public amusement parks”, (Letter 207), even the restaurants, schools and job were highly segregated. Amidst all the injustice, Dr. King honors the call from Birmingham. Engaging in a