Birmingham Jail

       Martin Luther King Jr's “Letter from Birmingham Jail” was written during his 8 day sentence in jail in 1963. He chose to travel and protest in Birmingham due to the fact that it was widely known as one of the most segregated city in the U.S. The letter not only addresses the issues of unjustly being arrested for being an "extremist" of his approach to the protest, and of the incompetence of the church but its also an appeal for things to be seen from his point of view.

Fifty years ago today, Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. penned his now famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. On this anniversary, Erin Wilson reflects on what this important document can still teach us today.

On April 16, 1963, from a jail in Birmingham, Alabama, Martin Luther King Jr. composed an extensive letter to eight clergymen who condemned the timing of the civil rights movement. Although the letter was addressed to these eight clergymen, the Letter from Birmingham Jail speaks to a national audience, especially King’s “Christian and Jewish brothers”(King, 29). His peaceful but firm letter serves as a remarkably persuasive voice to an immensely chaotic mess, and is seen as a major turning point in the civil rights movement. King believes that without direct action, the full rights for African Americans could never be achieved. He defends the impatience of people in the civil rights movement, upholding that without forceful

In August of 1963 while confined in Birmingham Jail, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote to the religious leaders of Birmingham, who had voiced discontent regarding the recent demonstrations taking place in Birmingham. The letter written by Dr. King, not only gathered local attention, but also brought awareness nationwide to the growing civil rights movement. In this analysis, I will identify Dr. Kings intended purpose in writing this letter, its directed audience, and the techniques that made it effective.

On page one, in paragraph four, Dr. King claims that he could not wait around in Atlanta knowing how what violence and discrimination was currently happening in Birmingham. However, if he could not stand for not doing anything to help, why did he not join the freedom riders movement, which surfaced many of the problems happening in Birmingham?

Martin Luther King, Jr. was imprisoned in Birmingham jail because of his contribution and participation in nonviolent demonstrations opposing the segregation championed by the southern leaders. The essay explores his longhand letter in response to civic statement of alarm and threats from the letter written by white religious leaders.

One powerful example of King’s pull on the reader’s consciousness in his letter is on page three when he refutes the argument of the Clergymen saying that Colored people should just “wait”.  While many words truly stand out, King’s true effect was mastered by the appeal to the parents in the group, “When you have to concoct an answer for a five-year-old son who is asking: “Daddy, why white people treat colored people so mean” (“Letter from Birmingham Jail” 3)Then again, “humiliation day in and day out by nagging signs” (“Letter from Birmingham Jail 3) and even further, when “you are forever fighting a degenerating sense of “nobodiness” (“Letter from Birmingham Jail 3).  Another element that helps support King’s point in his letter is the fervent repetition of his blatant disappointment in more than simply the clergymen, but their Christian faith and the churches in service within Alabama during this time. King repeats how disappointed he was in the “common whites” also and their bystander reactions to racial issues. The fact that this man, a minister, “beneath” the said extremist white clergymen, and inhabiting a jail cell during that time, who was disappointed in people showed a true depth which hit the audience profoundly. (King)

Trying to recollect the feelings, the officers and others left shattered on the ground. The bruises on his body continued throbbing, as his eyes blurred with warm tears. “What did I do to deserve this?” he prayed. While looking through the bars of his jail cell he sees a man of old age. Watching as the tears stream down the face of the man who has lived a life of pain and anguish. Due to a world that took everything away from him. A man who has many things to say, but is speechless and not able to express himself. As he watched this man, he realized that unlike the man in the other cell, he was able to express himself and others. Picking up his pen, Martin Luther King Jr. started writing. In the “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King Jr. portrays his attitude toward the white clergymen, while also depicting the everyday tribulations and hardships of many African Americans in the U.S., longing for the voice of equality to be

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. one of many great influential speakers wrote a life changing letter after being arrested for peacefully protesting African American rights. While sitting in jail Dr. King received a letter from clergymen questioning his motives and timings for being in Birmingham. In a response Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. writes a “Letter from Birmingham Jail” vividly expressing physical and emotional purposes for his presence in Birmingham, AL.

The “Letter from Birmingham Jail” written by one of the key figures of the civil rights movement, Martin Luther King Jr., is one of the most powerful and influential writings in american history. The letter was written while he and fellow protestors were being held in custody for protesting in the city of Birmingham, Alabama. King was a very passionate and selfless man. He only had love in his heart for all living beings regardless of their race or religion. He believed in a peaceful way of protest to not give power to the opposition. Throughout his fight for equality he wrote many important speeches and documents this one being one of the most influential. Sadly his death was of an unnatural form. He was assassinated 1968 in Memphis,

“Letter from a Birmingham Jail” discusses the life of Martin Luther King Jr. He became a leader in the civil rights movement to end racial segregation and discrimination in America during 1950s and 1960s. According to the letter, “I think I should indicate why I am here in Birmingham, … So, I, along with several members of my staff, am here because I was invited here. I am here because I have organizational ties here. But more basically, I am in Birmingham because injustice is here.” Also, he became a leading spokesperson for nonviolent methods of achieving social change. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” after he was arrested for peacefully protesting segregation and racial terror in Birmingham.

After being arrested and imprisoned in Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote one of his most famous works to the people of Birmingham, titled “Letter From Birmingham Jail on April 16, 1963. This piece speaks of the evils of the segregation laws and how the blacks had been treated unfairly in Birmingham, in an attempt to get the white people to support the desegregation of Birmingham. He had been imprisoned because of his participation in a civil disobedience protest, and he is arguing that, even though the white people of Birmingham see the black’s way of protesting as wrong, it is a justified way to fight back against the unjust laws. In “Letter From Birmingham

James A. Colaiaco in the article, “The American Dream Unfulfilled: Martin Luther King, Jr. and the ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail,’” explains how Martin Luther King Jr.’s nonviolence tactics ultimately allowed African Americans to make great strides for equality in the Supreme Court. Colaiaco supports his claims by giving detailed explanations about the main points mentioned within King’s letter. The author’s purpose is to persuade the reader to continue to help making social changes in order to fulfill the dream of Martin Luther King, Jr. Colaiaco begins his article by giving the reader background information about events that took place during the early 1960’s and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s role in the civil rights movement. He argues that “the events in Birmingham proved to be a turning point in the battle for civil rights, after which the forces of

After being forced to work countless hours in the hot sun in a field for little to no wage and for it to be finally be over, I would think that I would be treated as an equal in society. The Letter of Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther explained the aftermath of segregation how it affected African Americans. Segregation divided African Americans into three different groups those who benefitted from segregation, resorted to violence due to segregation, or accepted segregation. African Americans somehow had to gain social equality and still keep a harmless image in society. After relentless attempts to get the government’s attention so that they would take action against segregation, all the government did was prolong action. The government repressed

Birmingham was known as one of the most racist cities in the South, but also a place where change needed to take place. King, having been arrested several times before for peaceful protest was in jail in Birmingham for violating law with public demonstrations. He discovered that his methods of bringing awareness to the matter of civil rights was under harsh scrutiny by white members of the church. During his short amount of time in jail, he responded to the criticism by writing one of the most important documents that came out of the Civil Rights movement known as “Letters from a Birmingham Jail”. In this document, King brilliantly displays his writing ability and how he strikes the heart of the nation pointing out his Christian beliefs and the words of the Bible in the fight for equality.