Letter to a Birmingham Jail Summary

Paper 1: Letter From a Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr.

Yban Pearson

Arrested for peaceful protesting in 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” as a response to criticism by white clergymen in which he establishes reasoning to why direct action had to be taken. In so, he wrote more than just responses to criticism, but goes further by elaborating on law and providing his own criticism of the white moderate. Thus, it can be clear that King sought to highlight the injustice being done to African Americans and to call upon people to take a stand alongside them. Though written only for 8 clergymen, its audience widened to anyone who wanted change and freedom.

To defend himself of all the criticisms, King does not say that he’s better than anyone or approaches them with criticism right away. Instead he points out that he is an equal by writing “fellow clergyman” and mentions that he has the position of authority to be there as he is the Southern Christian Leadership Conference leader. It is only after that when he makes his argument against the statement that it was “unwise and untimely” for the protest by naming the poor conditions of life that they had and stating that it was well planned. They had waited for the opportune time to do it as they waited after certain events were over so as not to cause the wrong impression. In a nonviolent campaign there were only four basic guidelines, each step designed to keep the peace. In one of the steps, self-purification, the people are asked to maintain their emotions and dignity in check by not responding to violent acts done to them. With this mentality they could go to the streets and protest without being accused of anything, but being peaceful. However, having already been discriminated and brutality struck through the years, the community marked as “negro” was told that their actions were going to be poorly timed and that they should wait for better opportunities. As for...