Letter From Birmingham Jail Themes

Racism

Letter from Birmingham Jail was written in reply to a public letter of concern that had been penned by eight religious leaders of the South. King had been imprisoned in the city’s jail due to the non-violent protests he had led in violation of an injunction on protesting that had been enforced in the city. In his letter, King frames an undeniable argument in support of the non-violent protests instituted by the African Americans against the racist policies of segregation and the discriminatory treatment of black citizens. Segregation laws had been enforced throughout the American South, however, King labels Birmingham, Alabama as “the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States.” He supports his assertion by citing numerous examples of racial inequality and highlights the psychological, emotional, as well as physical toll that Segregation laws have on the black population of America.

He addresses the criticism that the protests had failed to give appropriate time to the newly elected mayor, Albert Boutwell, to address the situation before instituting civil disobedience. King dismisses this argument due to Mr. Boutwell’s established stance as a segregationist. King explains that the non-violent protests were a means of creating constructive tension that would communicate the urgent need for change. He defends the non-violent nature of direct action while citing the polarization that had captured the imagination of several African Americans like those that had chosen to support the Nation of Islam movement. King believes that black citizens would be forced to take up arms if they wouldn’t be allowed even to protest peacefully, which isn’t a threat but rather a historic convention that has been mirrored in both the history of Christianity and America. He asserts that history has proven, that “privileged groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily."

Christianity

Martin Luther King Jr. raises a religious and moral argument in support of the protests against the racist policies of Segregation. He writes from the perspective of a fellow Christian and Clergyman as he addresses the criticisms raised by the religious authorities of the South. King established Christianity to be the most personal motivation for the protests as he argued that racism was an issue beyond politics. He argued that racism was in dissonance with both morality and Christianity. King also distances the non-violent movement from other desegregationist movements like the Nation of Islam that had lost faith in Christianity. He concludes his letter with a positive note as he expresses his hope that he would one day meet the clergymen as a colleague and fellow Christian. King establishes the racist segregation policies as unchristian, and the moral right of African Americans to protest those policies by drawing parallels with the early Christians. He likens the protesters spreading the idea of racial equality to the religious prophets and apostle Paul who traveled outside their land to preach the gospel of God. He agrees that the protests could be seen as unlawful but he is certain that they are ultimately morally appropriate and necessary. King expresses his disappointment in the silence of the Church, which had always been a powerful force of social change but has now become a defender of the status quo. He believes that the church needs to resume its position in driving societal change or risk losing the faith of millions of people. King essentially presents a reading of the bible as a repeated record of uprisings against false and immoral laws. Justice Martin Luther King Jr. writes this letter from a prison cell in Birmingham jail, as a consequence of the direct action protests that took place against the racial discrimination that is practiced by the city’s institutes. Despite his imprisonment, King doesn’t see himself as a criminal, as he believes that the protests may be termed illegal but are rooted in service to justice. King explains the difference between just and unjust laws to illustrate his point. He believes that just laws were essentially in consonance with the moral and natural law of God. King goes on to establish Segregation laws to be immoral and sinful, which warrants rebellious action. King elucidates the meaning of unjust laws beyond religion when he points out the fact that these laws did not apply equally to white and black people. Furthermore, these laws were not enacted democratically since black people were deprived of their right to vote and thereby deprived of the expression of their voice. King and his protestors treat the law as a fundamentally crucial institution through their willingness to bear the punishment for the illegality of their actions. He explains the four steps involved in their process of civil disobedience, which begins by establishing the existence of injustice. He cites numerous instances of racial inequality that pervaded the city. They had then attempted to carry out negations with the stakeholders, which had failed to produce any significant effect. The protesters then prepared themselves to bear the consequences of breaking the law and submitting to the stipulated punishment. Finally, they began with their action of direct action in the form of their protest.