LETTER FROM THE BIRMINGHAM CITY JAIL by Martin Luther King, Jr. is a political philosophical writing. Social and political philosophy asks such questions as; Are all laws just? What makes a law justified? Under what conditions should the individual obey the laws of the state? Or should he at all times be subordinate to the laws of the state? Is violence ever ethically justified? The LETTER FROM BIRMINGHAM CITY JAIL asks and seeks to answer the above questions.
In LETTER FROM THE BIRMINGHAM CITY JAIL, King crafted a powerful moral argument for refusing to obey unjust laws and for responding to injustice everywhere. King wrote his reply after being arrested and jailed for taking part in racial protests. He appeals to authority, to emotion and to logic, in his writing to get to his readers. He uses writing effectively to persuade his readers. First, he appeals to his own reputation and wisdom. Second, he tries to arouse emotions or sympathy in the readers. Finally, he appeals to logic, supported with evidence and citations from influential thinkers.
The first example that illustrates King’s use of this strategy is present in the second paragraph of his letter: “I have the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference”. Thus, he reminds his audience of his position of leadership in the religious community. In the third paragraph, he states, “Like Paul, I must constantly respond to the Macedonian call for aid.” Consequently, he says he is a prophet of freedom like Paul, and he also compares himself to Jesus in the same paragraph. This provides him with the highest level of authority in the religious field. He suggests he has the support of God to wage his war against injustice. Therefore, since God has chosen him, it implies he is of higher moral standards. In the fourth paragraph, he continues: “Moreover, I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states.” King wants to remind his readers of his belonging to the assembly of the enlightened citizens. He also uses the name of such people as Socrates and Abraham Lincoln to convey authority. Consequently, he has the necessary wisdom to voice his opinions.
King intends to create a feeling of proximity and sympathy for the civil rights cause. Thus, he intends to give the white reader an insight into the abject situation in which the African Americans are. He wants to sprinkle sparks of rejection against immoral behaviours. He explains the evil way the police repress protesters. Martin Luther King, Jr. wants his readers to imagine the pain and the humiliation. His purpose is to arouse emotion in his readers, both the white and African American communities, to abate the aggressiveness coming from the white citizens and revive the fire of nonviolent struggle in the African American minds. Martin Luther emphasizes the injustice in the daily life of the members of the African American community in the fourteenth paragraph. Likewise, he desires to provoke a moral rebellion against hatred and condescendence showed towards the demonstrators. Lastly, he stresses the heroism performed in small struggles against the oppression. Martin Luther aims at commending those achievements and encourages their increase through the black American community.
Martin Luther King, Jr. is a fervent user of logic, especially to justify why each of his contemporaries should compel with the authority of God. The sixteenth paragraph is composed mainly of illustrations of appeals to evidence from prominent philosophers. His demonstration commences with the explanation of the fairness of a law. To support his affirmation, he quotes St Thomas Aquinas who reached the same conclusions several centuries earlier. Subsequently, he cites Martin Buber, a Jewish philosopher, to explain why unfair laws abase the segregationists. Finally, Martin Luther King, Jr. mentions Paul Tillich, an illustrious Protestant theologian, to support his belief that segregation is not only morally detestable but also sinful. Martin Luther King’s purpose is to support his argumentation with quotations from esteemed persons in the religious and philosophic fields. He tries to prove that every citizen must abide by the American laws enacted by the Supreme Court. Nevertheless, he maintains a firm position of morality for yielding to a higher authority.
There is a logically fallacious statement in the letter and it is: “Our actions, even though peaceful, must be condemned because they precipitate violence. But can this assertion be logically made?” King uses comparisons to a robbed man and also to Socrates and Jesus to explain that “it is wrong to urge an individual to cease his efforts to gain his basic constitutional rights because the quest may precipitate violence”.
Most importantly, King’s LETTER FROM BIRMINGHAM CITY JAIL strives to justify the desperate need for nonviolent direct action, the absolute immorality of unjust laws together with what a just law is, as well as, the increasing probability of the blacks or negroes resorting to extreme disorder and bloodshed, in addition to his utter disappointment with the Church who, in his opinion, had not lived up to their responsibilities as people of God. Luther writes that he is in Birmingham city jail because he was invited and that he has organizational ties in Birmingham. He says injustice is there. He believes injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. He also writes that in any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps which are: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self-purification; and direct action.
King’s protesting segregation begins with a profound explanation of their actions, “Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue”. The actions of the African American people are overdue and very well planned as King explained in the letter. Their quest was to force the white politicians to negotiate and actually heed their requests for desegregation. The whites had to be forced because privileged groups seldom give up their privilege voluntarily. As King explained, “past promises have been broken by the politicians and merchants of Birmingham and now is the time to fulfill the natural right of all people to be treated equal”. Violence is not what King wants; he simply wants unjust laws to change and the Supreme Court’s decision of 1954 outlawing segregation in public schools to be upheld.
Furthermore, King’s answer to the assertion that breaking the law is not the way to achieve the results the African American is looking for is that: “Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that, an unjust law is no law at all”. King does not feel that they have broken the law; his answer to this is that a law that is not morally sound is not a law. Laws are made to protect the people not degrade and punish. As far as King is concerned, the African American will continue to do whatever is necessary, preferably non-violently, to obtain the legal and moral right that is theirs. If they are not allowed this peaceful expression of the needs they so desire, it could lead to a much uglier action. Martin Luther King expressed his concern that if something is not done with these feelings and absolute needs of the African American there will be violence and mayhem. “The Negro has many pent-up resentments and latent frustrations, and he must release them. So let him March”.
King diligently explained that “black nationalist” groups are becoming prevalent in society and he has faith that the “Negro Church” has had direct influence in keeping the violence from erupting. Finally, King felt frustration with the Church in general. He feels that the Church has avoided its responsibilities to the African American people, hiding behind “anesthetizing security of stained-glass windows”. King summarizes his letter by making the point that he hopes that the Church will see its responsibilities as people of God and understand the need for direct action, the justification of unjust laws and the impending danger of the African American rising up in violence if they are not heard. Martin Luther King writes enlightening in a political and philosophical manner.
