Argumentive Analysis of Martin Luther King's Letter from Birmingham Jail - Essay Example

? “Letter from Birmingham Jail” was handwritten by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1963 inside his prison cell to address the stance of eight influential religious leaders from the South. The letter is an intense and sincere reaction in defense to the civil rights movement. The content of the letter further elucidates the articulateness of the foremost civil rights leader where he tackled one by one and meticulously retorted all of the criticisms that they have encountered. This specially puts into focus the recurring remark that the movement that the demonstrations are “unwise and untimely” (King, p.1). Dr. King begins by saying that he is not one to put much attention to criticisms for which the movement has plenty of for this would only result in stagnation for taking up too much time without having anything done in the end. This proves to be a logical sentiment since there will ultimately be too many that reproaches their call to put an end to segregation and thus will object to the same relentlessly. But the statement from these prominent people with devoted and numerous followers propelled a passionate but nonetheless erudite response that is nothing more than remarkable considering that it was written inside the prison after the group to which Dr. King belongs to was apprehended for having no permit from the local government for their demonstration. In his arguments we see the significant fact that not only is he a charismatic and intelligent leader of the civil rights movement, he is also a devout leader of the church and how he integrates all these pieces of himself to deliver a convincing and organized argument. One of the prevailing criticisms is the notion of “outsiders coming in” (King, p.1). This revolves around the basic idea that any one place infiltrated by another or a group does not deserve to be there much more should they participate in the internal issues of the place they do not belong to. The very fact that Dr. King was in Birmingham and that he was not a resident of that place classifies him as an outsider and therefore he should not have been there much more jailed in Birmingham. He addressed this issue first by establishing his connection as the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a wide organization with an arm in Birmingham, and that he was invited by their affiliate. But the main point, he adds, why he is in Birmingham is injustice. Injustice knows neither place nor boundaries. It does not accept the sole reason of being an outsider for not being a valid reason to exist. He manifests that he goes where there is injustice and Birmingham is one great example. He considers this as a mandate in the same way that the apostles travelled from place to place to preach the gospel. Dr. King brilliantly engaged his religious knowledge to put off a sense of irony specifically for his main audience while he was writing the letter. The main point of his argument is what he considers the interrelatedness of people from different communities within the country. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (ibid, p.1). The United States is one whole country connected by affinity and anyone who is a citizen thereof cannot be considered an outsider. The next criticism is what the detractors consider as unnecessary and violent protests. Dr. King first noted the four basic steps in a nonviolent campaign. This includes “collection of the facts to determine whether injustices are alive, negotiation, self-purification, and direct action” (p.1). Then he submits that all of these steps have been taken on in Birmingham to no avail. The level of segregation in Birmingham is tantamount and the animosity toward the Black community is deplorable. They have gone through negotiation with various sectors but all of these ended up in broken promises. The election was also a pivotal moment that convinced them to put off any massive action. The rhetoric of the critiques was that they should have waited for the new administration to take action. But Dr. King was convinced that there will not be any drastic change since the administration is still essentially pro-segregation. The ambivalence of wait persevered until there was no longer an option but to proceed to direct action. The inevitability of constructive nonviolent tension is integral in setting of a platform to air out grievances. This concept of timing was another well-addressed issue by Dr. King. He regards of this invisible timetable set forth but bears no explanation nor finds any tangible representation. His emphasis on waiting as an answer to every move toward the abolishment of segregation was emphatic. The word, he articulates, is an unending resonation that symbolizes dissatisfaction. “It has been a tranquilizing thalidomide, relieving the emotional stress for a moment, only to give birth to an ill-formed infant of frustration” (p.2). The end of waiting gave rise to the necessity of breaking the law. This is manifested by no less that Dr. King’s group being arrested for breaking it. He then mapped out a discussion on the difference between a just law and an unjust law and how there should be a disassociation between the two to determine what must be followed and what must be struck down. An unexpected but nonetheless effective part of his letter that can be considered a stroke of genius and concurrently a moment of sincerity was the discourse on the white moderate. This grey area of the population was the most difficult to fathom and to categorize in the whole perspective of the civil rights movement. This group he professes “prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice” (p.3). He considers this as even worse than the outright rejection of others since they are even more difficult to ascertain. They are comfortable to remain at status quo in order to avoid any disturbance if only to keep what they regard to be peace although internally society is ill with injustice. The acceptance of the movement and the means they have employed yielded the most number of reactions from this group who implore that equality shall come in time without necessity of any violence or drastic measures. Dr. King once again reverted to his religious rhetoric to set forth an indefeasible argument. He compared their goals to be the same as that of Christianity where the latter has almost two thousand years to gain its goal of universal acceptance. To wait for the same period of time would essentially be ludicrous. Silence is not an answer and to wait again until such time that things finally fall in the Black people’s favour finds no place but in the realm of what could be. Affirmative action is the key and as such has required civil disobedience then this must follow. Another group Dr. King has openly confronted in his letter are some of the white religious leaders. This he regarded as another source of disappointment. With the notion that the group would be supportive in Birmingham in the same way as some others have embraced steps toward desegregation, this had found no inkling of having the same acceptance. This was in consonance with the law as decided by the Supreme Court and as followed in most other Southern states but the stubborn stance of the leaders paved no way as initially expected by Dr. King in consonance with the merits of the cause. The church has become but a resonation of the white moderate disinclination without any individual voice to command its own followers. The final point of his retort to the white religious leaders was their commending of the policemen for containing the violent ‘mob’ of segregationists. Dr. King points out the reality of what have occurred and the supposed nonviolence of the police as a masked reality of what truly happened. He was quick to add “I'm sorry that I can't join you in your praise for the police department” (p.5). From thereon he ends in an almost apologetic note of the open letter he had then signed with the glaring words “Yours for the cause of Peace and Brotherhood” (p.6). This letter which Dr. King has himself mentioned for its length is but an outburst of fervor inspired and quite frankly instigated by the walls of prison. This was a long-awaited response that puts into place all of the criticisms that the move against racial injustice has endured. His use of historical ideas and quotations puts weight precisely on where it is needed without having to be redundant or forceful. It was this internal aura of peace in a situation of violence which renders it nothing less than sublime. This was a way for him to take the high road in a time which had made this almost impossible. Even in this letter, during the lowliest of places, Dr. King has managed to compose an eloquent letter. This defined why he has become the crucial influence of the Civil Rights Movement and why he has become the historical figure that he is. Bibliography Luther King, Jr., Martin. "Letter from Birmingham Jail." The Atlantic Monthly (1963): 78-88.Carson-Newman College. 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