Letter from Birmingham Jail: Dr. Martian Luther King Jr.

“Letter from Birmingham Jail,” is a document written by Dr. Martian Luther King Jr, on April 16, 1963, to address an issue that is in Birmingham and the United States at that point in time.

It is addressed Dr. King’s fellow clergymen, which is also men that has criticized him for what he has done at Birmingham, Alabama. He uses this letter to justify the desire for racial justice and equal-ness in the world and uses emotion, ethical appeals, and logical appeals. Dr. King starts talking straight to the clergymen and telling them that if he took the time to answer everyone that criticize him for what he does he wouldn’t have the time to answer the real issues in society. Ending that he would answer their criticism sincerely.  

Dr. King starts by wanting to tell the men why he is in jail in the first place since the clergymen has been influenced by an outside source. He was in jail because he has eighty-five organizations known as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He was at Birmingham because one of his organization called him, to engage in a non-violent but direct action program when it was necessary.  

 Dr. King came to Birmingham along with several of his staff member is in jail because they came to the aid of their fellow brothers. Just like the eighth century prophets had left their little villages and carried the gospel of the lord, Dr. King carried the gospel of freedom. he couldn’t back and watch injustice happen in Atlanta. That “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”. That the world is in an inescapable network of mutuality,” That when injustice affects one directly and indirectly. That society can no longer live in the narrow idea, and anyone in the US should never be considered an outsider.

Dr. King goes to say that he is sorry that the clergymen statement does not express the concern for the right of black men and women, and for the conditions that brought the demonstrations into being. That Dr. King wouldn’t hesitate to say “that it is unfortunate that so called demonstrations are taking place in Birmingham at that time”.  That it is more unfortunate that the white power over the city left the Africa American community with no alternative.

Dr. King proceeds to talk about Four Steps of any Nonviolent Campaign. The four steps in a nonviolent campaign that Dr. Martin Luther King addresses in "Letter from Birmingham Jail"? “1. The collection of facts to determine if there is injustice. 2. Negotiation 3. Self-purification, a natural process of cleansing, riding of pollutants for example they was wanting to rid the world of police brutality 4. Direct action. Dr. King and his employees, went through all the steps.” He continues to talk about how the police brutality in the city of Birmingham is so bad it was known all over the country. There are more unsolved bombings for the African American homes and churches in Birmingham, than any other place in the nation. The African American leaders tried to negotiate with the city fathers. But they refused to engage in good faith negotiation.