Summary Analysis


            In the passage from “Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr., King argues for the need for action now rather than letting time go by without attempting anything directly to right the wrongs of racial inequality. In King’s opinion, “justice too long delayed is justice denied” and those white moderates who agree with his cause should rally and take a more active role in the fight for racial equality. King is adamant in his belief that “human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability” which is to say humans must put forth a great effort to make any sort of change since nothing is ever resolved on its own.

            King uses a few key elements in his letter to gain support for his cause. Firstly, his extensive use of pathos to evoke sympathetic emotions in his readers. For example, the description of his daughter as he sees “tears welling up in her eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children” and “the depressing clouds of inferiority begin to form in her little mental sky” appeals to parents’ concern for their own children. This creates an emotional link between the African American populous and the white populous of America at that time. While other quotes from King’s letter like “vicious mobs lynch[ing] your mothers and fathers at will and drown your brothers and sisters at whim” and “hate-filled policemen” who “curse, kick, brutalize, and even kill…with impunity” use imagery and pathos to appeal to the human nature of the readers. His word choice in those quotes like “vicious mobs” and “hate-filled policemen” exhibit the fact that this conflict is not just a social one but is in fact a very violent event that must be stopped. King uses words like “dignity” and “worth” to inspire the readers’ morality and convince the reader that what King is doing is morally sound.

            Secondly, King reproaches the white moderates’ lack of bravery and dedication when it comes to fully supporting an ideal of which they approve but make no attempt to assist in the progress of. King explains that it is not white extremist groups like the Ku Klux Klan or the White Citizen’s Council that are blocking social progress but the “white moderate who is more devoted to ‘order’ than to justice; who prefers a negative peace…to a positive peace.” That is to say that whites who are more at ease with the situation before the protests than during the protests, even if the protests restore social justice with time, are the cause of the current lack of African American freedom. King’s states that he is “coming to feel that the people of ill will have used time much more effectively than the people of goodwill” in order to say the good willed white moderates, though they argue for a later time to act, that wait are allowing those with ill will to act against them.

King even goes so far as to use religious and popular figures to justify his extremist cause. As King argues “was not Jesus an extremist for love…was not Amos an extremist for justice… was not Paul an extremist for the gospel of Jesus Christ…” and so on he attempts to make the distinction between positive extremists and negative extremists. His use of popular and religious figures helps his readers connect with his opinion better than if he had utilized more obscure references. In order to further demonstrate the difference between the two types of extremists, King writes on how three men were crucified for extremism, “two were extremists for immorality and thusly fell below their environment” and one “was an extremist for love, truth, and goodness, and thereby rose above his environment.”

After reading the passage from the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr., I would neither completely agree nor completely disagree with King’s statements regarding the white moderates’ lack of full participation and those regarding time. The portion I agree with is that time must be used effectively and presently if the people are to effect any change within society. However the portion I disagree with is that full participation, or at least strong participation, is necessary for change to occur. In this modern society, though some of King’s ideals have been put into action, there are other social issues that must be attended to at this current time is society is going to move forward. For example, the fight for gay rights has been going on for what seems like a long time now but only after certain steps were taken and time was used effectively did any significant change occur. Similarly, the struggle against animal cruelty has only progressed in small increments thus far. Although in this instance I have contributed some effort such as donating time to my local humane society and being a member of two animal advocate groups. I would say that my participation has been minimal but any effort at all helps.

In conclusion, in the passage from Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” King emphasizes the need for action in resolving the social conflict of racial inequality by the white moderates of America. King uses the strength of human emotion and popular and religious culture to argue his views. He also discusses the importance of acting in a timely manner since nothing is accomplished on its own. In my opinion, King is right for wanting action now but he is wrong for believing full social participation is the only answer to this issue of racial inequality.

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