Response to "Letter from Birmingham Jail"

In “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” King explains how he views this horrible injustice which has come down upon his people. Through the entire piece King goes into great, beautiful detail that unjust laws against a minority are absurd; one example being the fact that his minority must abide by any unfair law, yet they did not have a say or get to part-take in its creation what so ever. He also states that, “An unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law. Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust” (King 179). Here he explains the injustice against a person’s inner-self, a person’s conscience, a law that takes away a person’s right to be his or herself; I totally agree with King’s opinion about an unjust law; no one should be cut down to nothing from unfair government decisions. King supports just laws, and will abide those that are fair to all people, but if it is not fair, just and moral, why should he or anyone it hurts abbey it? They shouldn’t have to, and that is the stand King takes in his argument. From these statements above, it is obvious to see that King has been significantly inspired by Henry David Thoreau, for Thoreau believed unjust laws should not be obeyed as well.

In King’s essay he discusses the white churches in great detail. He explains how he was sure that they all would support him in his fight for equality, for they are places of God, and under God all people are seen as equal. Although, to King’s dismay, the white churches did not support him, or they went the route of keeping silent on the issues. King only gained the support from a couple, if that, churches; and even though it was appreciated he needed more. King’s most powerful argument of why the white Christian churches should support him in this fight is the most compelling argument, in my opinion, in this letter. He states, “Whenever the early Christians entered a town, the people in power became disturbed and immediately sought to convict the Christians for being “disturbers of the peace” and “outside agitators” (King 186). Here he is relating the early Christian church’s struggle to be accepted to his own. King goes on to say, “But the Christians pressed on, in the conviction that they were “a colony of heaven,” called to obey God rather than man. Small in number, they were big in commitment,” (King 186) just like King and his followers. I strongly agree with the approach King is taking with the churches to earn their trust, respect, and support. When I first read these few statements, I was moved by them; so I can only imagine how the Christian churches responded.

Even though King did not earn all the churches support and respect, he did earn the support from many single members; members who did not care if they would be kicked out of their church for supporting him, members who did not care if they went to prison along with King and his followers, they were true members to the spirit of God within their corrupt church. King’s disappointment with the white Christian churches did not derive him from his goal though; it only made him more determined. This determination is what I love and respect of Martin Luther King Jr. He is an amazingly man, and every day I thank him for what he accomplished; because without him and his followers American would still be racially segregated and in much depression. I only wish I had the opportunity to thank him in person!

Works Cited

King, Martin Luther. "Letter from Birmingham Jail." A World of Ideas: Essential Reading for College Writers. Ed. Lee A. Jacobus. 7th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2006. pp 177-190.