Essay on MLK's Letter from Birmingham Jail for Philosophy Class
Margaret Caulkins
Philosophy 111
Professor Gandolfo
October 17, 2010
Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter From Birmingham Jail
Upon Martin Luther King Jr.'s imprisonment in Birmingham, eight white Alabama ministers published a statement arguing that King did not belong in Birmingham, and that the battle to end racial segregation was one that belonged solely in the courtrooms. These ministers considered King's actions "unwise and untimely." Four days after this statement, King responded to this statement with his legendary open letter Letter From Birmingham Jail. King's longest letter argues several issues, though he focuses on a few key issues more than others. His main arguments concern his presence in Birmingham, his arguments for nonviolent civil disobedience, and just versus unjust laws.
One of the first points King explains is his presence in Birmingham. King points out his connection with the SCLC, and its affiliation with organizations across the South, including those in Birmingham. He is not an outsider; as an American he has a personal stake in whatever happens to his fellow countrymen. He then reminds that he was asked to be there, and beyond that he had a moral obligation to be there. King believed that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Hence, he had to come and try to stop the gross injustices occurring in Birmingham. King then uses a series of biblical analogies to further justify his presence in Birmingham. He first refers to eighth century prophets who left their villages to speak God's word. He also speaks of Paul, and how he carried the Gospel to all of the Greco-Roman world. By using these analogies, King is strengthening his case by establishing similarities between it and previous, acceptable cases of moral acts. King appeals to the emotional connection the vast majority of Americans felt towards the Bible and its stories, and increases respect for King's cause. King also manages to give the audience a feeling of the grandeur of injustice by indirectly comparing himself to Jesus and his apostles. By referencing moral authorities in his arguments, King does present a bit of a contradiction. It's interesting that he feels the need to invoke authority to incite others to go against authority.