A Discussion of Martin Luther King Jr.s Letter From...

A Discussion of Martin Luther King Jr.s Letter From Birmingham City Jail Martin Luther King Jr. discusses the advantages and purposes for his theory of nonviolent direct action in his Letter From Birmingham City Jail. He shows four basic steps that must be taken to achieve nonviolent action. They include 1) collection of facts to determine whether injustices are alive; 2) negotiation; 3) self-purification; and 4) direct action. Each of these steps will be explained as part of Kings argument later in this essay. The main purpose of a nonviolent campaign is to force any community to confront a problem rather than refuse to negotiate or face a specific issue. In the letter, King discusses his groups reasons for coming to Birmingham.†¦show more content†¦He also looks unfavorably at the white Christian churches that have not lent a hand to help their black brothers in the Christian religion. Overall, he is trying to show how his way of nonviolent direct action is the best way to solve racial injustices against blacks. The argument of the letter is that direct action must be taken in specific ways for changes to be brought about. King says that nonviolent action can only be achieved by following four specific steps. The first step he says is to determine if there really are injustices being made towards a certain group. He shows these injustices with examples of violent acts against Negroes including police attacks, bombing of homes and churches, and lynching by mobs. He says that Negroes have been victims of discrimination in their inability to receive the benefits that their white counterparts receive. More have also been in poverty due to prejudices against them. He sees a flourishing, affluent society in which blacks are not allowed to play a role in. King knows that the Negroes are not free and in order for freedom to be gained it must be demanded because it is simply not given. The second step in the process of starting a nonviolent movement is the attempt to negotiate with your oppressors. K ing spoke with white merchants in Birmingham and asked that racial signs be removed from store windows. These merchants promisedShow MoreRelated Maya Angelou, Martin Luther King and the civil Rights Movement1353 Words   |  6 Pages1950’s and 60’s. The struggle of African Americans to gain equal rights in America during this time was a major problem. The civil rights movement was not only about stopping racial segregation amongst African Americans but also to challenge the terrible economic, political, and cultural consequences of that time. But with the help of great leaders and organizations in the civil rights movement, help brake the pattern of African Americans being discriminated against and being segregated. 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