Martin Luther King's Letter from Birmingham Jail - Research Paper Example

How did MLK's Letter from Birmingham Jail influence the civil-rights movement in Birmingham, Alabama? Martin Luther King Junior (MLK) is well-known for his relentless efforts in advocating for civil rights for minorities in the United States, particularly the civil rights of the African Americans (Wilson 15). He used non-violent means, as well as boycotts and protests in crusading for justice and civil rights. It is during one of these protests in 1963 that MLK and other activists were brutally arrested in Birmingham, Alabama, for violating court injunction issued by the State Circuit court against protests. While he was confined in the jail, King spent four days writing a letter that was known as “Letter from Birmingham Jail” dated 16 April 1963 (Joseph 27). This letter was responding to the public statement defending his actions. In the letter, King expresses his dissatisfaction and disappointment with the white moderate using its misconception of time, its devotion to order, as well as its illogical condemnation of the protests and demonstrations in Birmingham (Ali-Dinar). King argued that the white moderates were devoted to order instead of justice and that they had misinterpreted time in their flaws that time will cure all ills. The letter not only conveys King’s disappointment with the white moderates, but also serves the purpose of encouraging the commitment towards civil-rights movement (King 19). This paper will discuss how MLK's letter from Birmingham Jail influenced the civil-rights movement in Birmingham, Alabama. Martin Luther King Junior crafted “Letter from Birmingham City Jail” as a response to eight local white clergymen who were against King’s non-violent protest and demanded an end to the protests for desegregation of stores, restrooms, and lunch counters (Eskew 56). The letter turned out to be the turning point of the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham, Alabama. King wanted racial equality and wanted to diminish segregation and discrimination and through this letter he tried to illustrate how much he wanted to diminish violence within the blacks and the whites including hatred and bloodshed directed towards the blacks. He began the letter by protesting the segregation that the clergymen were part of and that fueled the ever-longing tension between the blacks and whites (Carmichael and Charles 44). He also added that the clergy did not confront the issue as they were expected to. He further mentioned that he was disappointed with the Church as they had not supported him in his efforts towards racial equality and as such they had not lived up to what God desired of them. He kept reiterating the fact that the last thing he wanted was violence in the pursuit of racial equality and that he just wanted court rulings regarding the issue upheld and laws changed to ensure that racial equality is achieved (Wilson 22). In the letter, King conveyed his disappointment with how white moderates were devoted to order rather than to justice. He thus hoped that the white moderates should understand that order exists for establishment of justice and that when it fails it blocks the social progress flow (King 30). He points out that the white moderates are exhibiting blindness; while they are acknowledging that there is need for maintaining law and order, they are promoting injustice by failing to recognize that by denying African Americans their civil rights (Ali-Dinar). He further argued that the white moderates have misinterpreted time by asserting that time cures al ills. He expressed his unhappiness with the white moderates who were situating themselves away from actively working for good although time is on their side. He thus urged more activists to engage in pursuing racial equality at that time rather than later. He said that “Now is the time” thereby urging more advocates for civil rights movement (King 45). The letter was the park of the Civil Rights movement in Birmingham, Alabama. King made it clear that Birmingham was probably the most thoroughly segregated city in America (Joseph 28). He cites an ugly record of brutality of police and unjust treatment of African Americans in the courts as some of evidence of this segregation. The situation was bad that African American leaders sought to negotiate with the city fathers and white moderates but the later consistently refused engaging in good faith negotiation (Wilson 36). The letter relived the reality that freedom is never voluntarily given by the perpetrators of oppression among the African Americans. Through the letter, the Civil Rights activists realized that there was need to hasten the activism towards ensuring that racial equality is realized. There was a realization among them that they had waited for so long to be granted their God-given and constitutional rights (Eskew 58). Concisely, the letter inspired civil rights movement significantly in Birmingham, Alabama in seven ways. The first one is it detailed principles of non-violence as a positive force towards ensuring racial equality is realized. Secondly, it called into question the cry of clergymen that blacks were not being patient. Thirdly, it faulted clergymen and the church for failing to support the civil rights movement in Alabama and largely the whole of America (Carmichael and Charles 49). Fourthly, it countered the charge of Martin Luther King and fellow activists as “outside agitators” in the fight towards racial equality not just in Birmingham, but also in the entire America. In addition, it justified civil disobedience that aims at promoting racial equality. Besides, it decried inaction of the white moderates who King viewed to be the African Americans’ greatest obstacle in their strides towards freedom (Wilson 41). This is because they were devoted to order instead of justice and as a result blocking social progress flow. Moreover, it provided an eloquent argument for direct action towards racial equality and guaranteeing civil rights to African Americans. The above-mentioned issues were instrumental in influencing civil rights movement in Birmingham, Alabama. Through this letter, King had begun to achieve his main objective of spreading the need to reach the stage of every man being equal regardless of his skin color (Eskew 59). It is no doubt that without King writing this letter responding to the clergymen, the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham, Alabama would have taken much longer to have effect on diminishing racial segregation among the African Americans (King 35). Without the letter, the white people and the public would not have known how dedicated King was dedicated and committed to achieving his aims. The letter greatly impacted people as it gave them the hope that King will not give up. This inspired majority of them to engage in the activities of the Movement. In addition, the letter stimulated people to support efforts towards realizing civil rights among the African Americans (Joseph 74). It is worth noting that King’s letter did not have direct impact on his Birmingham campaign because most of the issues were resolved before it was published. The eight white clergymen singled out by King in the letter felt that it was unfair for them. That notwithstanding, the letter continued to reach a wider audience and this saw the support for civil rights legislation to start swelling (Wilson 98). Liberal white religious organizations such as the National Council of Churches started by endorse the goals of the movement. Such religious groups played an important role in lobbying the Congress to enact Civil Rights Act of 1964. Even though King was in jail, he was able to garner enough support through the letter for the establishment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Joseph 81). He thus proved that when people commit to a cause they would eventually achieve their goals. The Letter from Birmingham Jail and other activism methods were instrumental in ensuring that racial equality is achieved in the United States. The influence of the letter was further demonstrated when King called upon clergymen to join him for a march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965. Hundreds of nuns, priests, rabbis, and church ministers heeded the call and participated in the protest. This is a clear indication that the letter had pricked their consciences regarding their perception of Civil rights Movement (Eskew 60). Conclusion It is no doubt that MLK's Letter from Birmingham Jail influenced the civil-rights movement in Birmingham, Alabama. The letter sparked the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham, Alabama. The letter was instrumental in spreading the need to reach equality of every man and to eliminate segregation. Besides, the letter gave people the sense of hope and stimulated them to support actively the fight towards realizing African American rights. The letter highlighted key issues that significantly influenced the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham, Alabama. In the letter, he pointed out that injustice anywhere was a threat to justice everywhere and therefore there was need to fight injustice. The letter also reminded people that Birmingham was the most segregated city in America, a reminder that provided rationale for direct action geared towards emancipating the city and all the African Americans in the country. Moreover, it provoked the realization among activists and African Americans in the city that the oppressor never voluntarily grants freedom and the oppressed must demand freedom. The letter justified disobedience of unjust laws and it gave examples of unjust and just laws. King expressed his disappointment white moderates and some white leaders and church who he viewed as the great obstacle for African Americans stride towards freedom. Finally, he implored the need for creative extremists for extension of justice. All these issues influenced the civil-rights movement in Birmingham, Alabama. Works Cited Ali-Dinar, Ali. "Letter from a Birmingham Jail [King, Jr.]". 2012. Web. 20 Nov, 2012. < http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html> Carmichael, Stokely and Charles V. Hamilton. Black Power: The Politics of Liberation in America. New York: Vintage Books, 1992. Print. Eskew, Glenn T. But for Birmingham: The Local and National Movements in the Civil Rights Struggle. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1997. Joseph, Peniel. The Black Power Movement: Rethinking the Civil Rights-Black Power Era. CRC Press, 2006. Print. King, Martin L. Why We Can't Wait. Boston: Beacon Press, 2010. Wilson, Bobby M. Race and Place in Birmingham: The Civil Rights and Neighborhood Movements. Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2000. Print. Read More