Letter from Birmingham Jail

“But more basically, I am in Birmingham because injustice is here” (King 174). Through this quote, you can understand why Martin Luther King Jr. feels that protesting in Birmingham was necessary. His comrades of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference invited him to this city “to engage in a non-violent direct-action program…” (King 174). The in-justice he suffered in this city is indicated by the fact his was sent to jail for a non-violent protest. Through this letter King is explaining how the police/government have not given the Negro there right to their freedom of speech and freedom in general. “We know through painful experiences that freedom is never voluntary given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed” (King 177). This quote shows why these non-violent protests and walks were needed. If someone is not freely giving you something that you deserve, then you need to put forth effort to achieve it. The way Dr. King shows that this in-justice has led to protests and not negotiation is through the way he explains how one gets to negotiation, “The purpose of out direct-action program is to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitability open the door to negotiation” (King 176). King is saying that if someone will not negotiate with you, then there has to be ways for you to non violently make this happen. A person needs to stand up for what they believe is right; otherwise, what they believe amounts to nothing. “I suppose I should have realized that few members of the oppressor race can understand the deep groans and passionate yearnings of the oppressed race,” (King 185). Now matter what color you are if you do not show moral and just emotions towards what you feel is right, then there can never be a change. If you do not stand, up for your beliefs then they are lost and change will not occur until a martyr comes forth.




King Jr., Martin Luther. “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” A World of Ideas: Essential Reading for College Writers. Ed. Lee A. Jacobus. New York; Bedford St. Martins, 2006. pp 173-189.