Martin Luther King Jr.: A Leader in the Fight for Equality - Essay Sample

Introduction

King was United States-based Baptist minister and activist who became famous for his special commitment to fighting for the rights of Black people. He was also a formidable force to reckon in the civil rights movement that advocated for equality and diversity in the United States from 1955 until his death in 1968 (King 1). King wrote a wide range of letters indicating his devotion to bringing discrimination and segregation of the Black people by their white counterparts to an end. This paper, therefore, provides a comprehensive analysis of the legendary activist's "Letter from Birmingham jail.' King sought to respond to different concerns raised by a group of eight white clergymen alongside providing a detailed description of the agony as well as negotiations that Negroes experience in their lives (King 1). Specifically, the analysis contains a total of six different quotes in the body paragraphs to highlight the main issues that the deceased activist sought to address.

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Analysis

King began his letter-writing process by explaining to a group of eight white religious leaders on the main reason behind his presence in Birmingham. One of these reasons was the fact that he had received an official invitation to address injustices in Birmingham. King also pointed out the fact that Birmingham was the most discriminative city as a result of its patriarchal treatment of Negroes (1). To ascertain his authorship of the letter, Martin compared himself to Apostle Paul in the Bible who was dedicating to sharing his spiritual message with numerous people including those living "beyond his own town" (King 1). Similarly, King was from Atlanta but his commitment to end segregation inspired him to visit Birmingham, where discrimination was rampart. He also emphasizes on his apostolic mission to address discrimination in the Birmingham City by saying, "I cannot sit idly in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham" (King 1). This statement proves that King was not a Birmingham resident.

Nevertheless, King directed his message to everyone in America to proclaim the fact that injustice was not only in Birmingham but everywhere in the United States. Initially, King began his letter by highlighting the fact that "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" (1). He also writes, "I must make two honest confessions to you, my Christian and Jewish brothers" (King 3). This statement implies that not only the people living in Birmingham were responsible for discriminating against Negroes but across America. Nevertheless, one can say that the legendary author presented his message in the letter in a manner that he not only targeted his critics but each American. Consequently, Martin responded to a statement issued by the white religious that Negroes actions in Birmingham were untimely by stating that, "We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor" (King 2). King also portrayed disappointment in subsequent parts of the letter when he sarcastically responded to the white religious leaders' claim of Negroes actions being untimely. The legendary activist had a firm belief that the white moderate was "The Negroes' stumbling block in the stride towards freedom is" (King 3). Therefore, King identifies the need to abolish white moderates as one of the best ways through which Negroes could attain their independence and achieve their lifetime goals.

A detailed analysis of the letter also shows that King had a critical purpose and topic to address. His purpose was to provide appropriate responses to the criticism and outward opposition he encountered from the public alongside the eight white clergymen (King 3). On the other hand, the main topic of his letter was the inherent hopelessness of the Black Americans. His goal was to communicate about the atrocious experiences associated with segregation of the Black people and how inferior these coloured people felt. To demonstrate his outward disappointment with the white clergymen, King responded to their statement regarding the extreme nature of their activities. He says, "I was rather disappointed that fellow clergymen would see my nonviolent efforts as those of an extremist" (King 4). Consequently, King mentions different historic white people who were also extremists and successful at molesting Negroes. Some of these patriarchal leaders include Abraham Lincoln, John Bunyan, and Thomas Jefferson. Despite King's awareness of the inherent injustices in the Birmingham, he sarcastically claims that, "people cannot remain oppressed forever" (King 4). The legendary author and activist conclude his letter-writing process by highlighting the weaknesses associated with the contemporary church. King claims that the today's believers are not devoted as their predecessors, who could die in defence of their spiritual beliefs.

Conclusion

King provides the best example of conventional religious leaders whose initiatives played a crucial role in addressing the treacherous mistreatments of the Black people on the American soil. His Birmingham letter was not only directed to the eight white clergymen who supported the outward segregation of Negroes but America as whole. His melancholic tone makes the audience have a strong feeling of the painful experiences that Black people undergo on the American soil. Therefore, this letter remains an embodiment of the strong fight that contemporary Americans, both Black and Whites, need to put up to wipe out discrimination and in turn promote a culture of diversity and inclusivity.

Works Cited

King, Martin L. Letter from the Birmingham Jail. San Francisco: Harper, 1994. Print.