Analysis of “I Have a Dream” and “Letter to Birmingham Jail” In the “Letter to Birmingham Jail” Martin Luther King addresses the criticisms and objections that the white clergymen had made towards his and his affiliated organization’s efforts in trying to end segregation and achieve his and his people’s birth right: the right to be free through nonviolent means. Through the “I Have a Dream Speech” King speaks to his supporters and as well as to the entire nation to make them be fully aware of the injustices they are facing and through this make them stand up to those injustices. Both “Letter to Birmingham Jail” and “I Have a Dream Speech” have the same underlying meaning however. That way too long have the black community been treated wrongly. That way too long have the black nation been “judged by the color of their skin rather than the content of their character (King 815)” and therefore it is time for them to rise and stand up for their rights.
Toulmin Analysis In the “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, King he responds to a letter written by eight, white Alabama Clergymen to the editor of a newspaper in Birmingham. He wants the audience to believe that the clergymen fail to discuss the circumstances that brought about the demonstrations in Birmingham. In September 1962, King had the opportunity to talk with the leaders of Birmingham economic community. The merchants made many promise such as how they would remove the stores’ racial signs. Upon these agreements, Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, the leader of the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights, (including Martin Luther King) had agreed to delay the peaceful demonstrations.
Thoreau’s purpose is to convince the citizens of America to not follow the majority, but do what is felt to be morally right. Thoreau believes that citizens have the right and responsibility to disobey laws and regulations if they are unjust and not moral. Another one of Thoreau’s main points is that there
Isaiah Ryder Withrow Dr. Neiworth English 95 Thursday, March 12, 2015 MLK Jr. The Fight against Segregation. On April 16, 1963, from the jail of Birmingham, Martin Luther King Jr., has written a letter addressed to several clergymen who had written him a letter criticizing the actions of Dr. King, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) during the protests in Birmingham. Martian Luther King Jr. opens his letter in a subtly way “ If I sought to answer all the criticisms that crosses my desk, my securities would have little time for anything other than such correspondence in the course of the day, and I would have no time for constructive work. But since I feel that you are men of genuine good will and that your criticisms
Jennifer Smith Prof Franco 3/26/2011 Engl 1213 Standing up One of the most known advocates for equality is Martin Luther King Jr. He’s had some of the most moving, convincing and change inducing speeches of all time. His “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is no exception. King wrote the letter from a Birmingham jail cell in April on 1963 following his arrest for public demonstration. In the beginning of the letter, King describes his reason for writing the letter as a response to the Clergymen’s statement calling his “present activities unwise and untimely. ” (King).
This phrase, and indeed, his whole letter, instigated the continuation of King’s and his supporter’s direct action campaigns. King’s defence displayed his belief that non-violent direct action was incredibly important, as any other approach, specifically the attack of Black people within America, was evil, King wrote, ‘‘[non-violent direct action is] a courageous confrontation of evil by the power of love’’.3 Without the use of violence, King and many others, comprising mainly of Black children and teenagers went ahead with the protest march on the
He explains the difference between unjust and just laws saying a just law is one that is made by man but parallels the code and laws of God. And thus, he can rightfully tell people to disobey the unjust segregation ordinances because they are not morally correct. [627] He then point out the distinction between his arrest for not having a permit to parade, and that he was really arrested because he was promoting desegregation. He then points out the First amendments right of peaceful assembly and protest. He says that if you are going to disobey the law you must do it so with a willingness to admit it and acceptance of the appropriate punishment- that in turn is an example of respecting the
Mark Twain, the author of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, made a good choice to include controversial words in the book to show racial injustice and should be taught in schools. The fight on racism is one of the most important parts about the book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain uses satire to poke fun at people and show them they are wrong; twisting their beliefs. Satire is used on anything from religion to racism to stereotypes. A great example from the book is when Pap goes on and on about how government lets blacks be free, “It was ‘lection day, and I was Just about to go and vote, myself, if I warn’t too drunk to get there; but when they told me there was state in this country where they’d let that nigger vote, I drawed out” (Twain 20).
Subject: The subject of this letter is to state the reason he is in Birmingham for trying to change segregation as social justice and his use of civil disobedience as an instrument of freedom. Occasion: Dr. King is writing this letter from inside Birmingham Jail for being accused of misuse of the law by performing in acts of civil disobedience to show his disappointment at the leadership of the clergy and laws that he and others of the black community deem as unjust. Audience: Although this letter was initially mailed to the eight white clergymen who publicly asked the black community to restrict their Birmingham demonstrations, King meant for his message to reach a much larger audience such as U.S. citizens. King used this letter as
The privileged group, the 1%, does not want to give up power and change specific (tax) laws or wealth distribution to implement drastic change in the country. In his letter, which is written from jail, Dr. King states that, “we know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed”. This idea was evident during the times of the Civil Rights movement, and it is parallel today in the Occupy movement. The protestors are out in the streets demanding for their voices to be heard, to have a fair shake, and to influence positive change in the lives of the 99% of citizens in this country who are suffering at the hands of the most