King and the Letter - Essay Example

King and the Letter Martin Luther King, Jr. is a known leader of non-violent demonstrations against racism. As an advocate of non-violent protests, the letter was King’s way of answering the statement by clergymen against his actions. Though King thought that there are quite a number of more important things that can be done instead of just paying attention to the letter addressed to him, since he was brought to the jail there is nothing left to be done but to answer the accusations being thrown against him.

King himself wrote “Letter from Birmingham Jail” while he was detained in Birmingham, Alabama. It may just seem for others to be just a plain letter; there are messages in between the texts, which are being thrown against the critics of the leader of non-violent protests. One of the metaphors that MLK expressed in the letter was “all too many others have been more cautious than courageous and have remained silent behind the anesthetizing security of stained-glass windows (7).” Reading further on the letter, the author stated the respect that he has for the religious sector as to the importance of equality and the elimination of racism.

Yet instead of making a stand, the clergymen seem to just confide themselves within the church which are dominated mostly by whites. The religious sect should know the importance of equality more than any other sectors in the society. Instead of attacking those people who are fighting to be treated fairly, why does the church fail to address those white people who are maltreating people just because of the color of their skin. Who are breaching the teachings of the religious sector? Is it the blacks who all they wanted is to be treated fairly and humanely?

Or is it the whites who only think that it is them who are created superior than others? Another metaphoric statement in the letter was when King stated, “In those days the church was not merely a thermometer…it was the thermostat that transformed the mores of society (8).” A thermometer is the instrument used to measure temperature. However, instead of being an instrument, the church became a thermostat that further heats up the whole scenario. Instead of putting water to turn out the fire, the religious sect even put up the heat to intense more the emotions and beliefs that the blacks are not as good as whites.

Though at times there are people who have a different perception towards race, the clergymen themselves are advocates of racism and make their followers believe that those who would go against the beliefs and teachings of the church are going against the will of God. When the church goes forth with their racist belief, its follower should also do the same. The third metaphoric statement stated by King in his letter was “…have broken loose from the paralyzing chains of conformity and joined us as active partners in the struggle of freedom (8).

” Though faced with criticisms and other issues, there are groups of people who have opened up their hearts and mind towards the difference of race. Even if the society or the religious sect are still being conservative towards this matter, as time goes by people are starting to understand that man is man and should be treated humanely regardless of the color of his skin. Humans may be created differently but they were all created equally. All humans are the children of God regardless of being black or white.

Works Cited King, Martin Luther Jr. Letter from Birmingham Jail. 16 April 1963. Retrieved from .