Letter from Birmingham Jail

Letter from Birmingham Jail

“Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King is a famous response to the church officials on the topic of segregation and African-American discrimination. The letter was written after Dr. King's imprisonment in a solitude cell and was secretly smuggled by his lawyer and showed to the public (Martin Luther King). Despite the fact that the letter was not published in press, it had a powerful impression on the white community, moderate believers and active segregationists. The work of Martin Luther King encompasses serious issues of racial discrimination and social injustice experienced by “colored” people in America. The letter appeals not only to the government and religious ministers, but also to ordinary people who can stop perceiving dark-skinned as a nation hostile and different from the whites. Moreover, the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is a good example of persuasive writing that combines various techniques and devices that help the audience to focus on the main points and underline the major ideas.

The work of Martin Luther King is unique because it was the beginning of serious campaign for the rights of dark-skinned people all over America. Despite the fact that there were many movements that fought for the freedoms of Afro-Americans, the figure of Martin Luther King is one of the key in the resistance to the white domination. After peaceful demonstration in Birmingham, Martin Luther King and his followers were arrested by the police with violence and hostility. A number of religious officials wrote a letter to the preacher with criticism of his actions. Their main arguments were based on the manner of the protest and King's role in it. Firstly, Birmingham is not the native place of King and therefore he should not interfere into its business. Secondly, public demonstrations and direct actions are not the best way to express certain ideas when simple negotiations can be used. Thirdly, there is no need to force the beginning of social reconstruction towards “colored people” issue, the best way is to wait until the change will happen gradually by itself (Davis). Moreover, demonstration under the guidance of Martin Luther King was against the law because it was not permitted by the government, so King's imprisonment is completely natural. Any peaceful meeting that concerns social rights can easily result into violent confrontation, therefore, police actions were absolutely appropriate and helped to keep public order from King's extremist ideas. Lastly, the role of the church in in Afro-American fight for freedom should remain neutral and concentrate on spiritual assets rather than on social issues (Davis). Thus, the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is the detailed answer to the questions about injustice, right for peaceful demonstration, indifference, fairness of the laws and hypocrisy and cowardice of the church in the issue

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