In Martin Luther King Jr’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” King responds to the criticism written by a group of clergymen about the work that King is pursuing in Birmingham. Although King directly addresses his fellow clergymen he also expresses his strong disappointment in the white churches of the south and the wide range of white moderates. Making it clear that these groups are not in favor of king and the work that he is doing, King explains the flaws of how those who fight against him are not solely fighting against their own brothers and sisters, but are also damaging themselves. Kings followers are the many oppressed people in the black community in need of secured civil rights, as well as select individuals of white churches, businesses,
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The clergy men try to explain that the reason they chose not to support king in his efforts for racial equality is for three main reasons. They first express to KIng that he is deemed to them as an outsider and is bringing havoc contrary to peace into their homes. Yet, King should be anything but an outsider to them since he is a fellow man of God just as they are. Although they may see King as an outsider, they should still look at passages such as Exodus 22:21 and Exodus 23:9,where God commands his people to not mistreat aliens or foreigners. Instead of being hostile against KIng for being a stranger in their eyes, they should openly welcome him and seek ways to support him in what he needed to do. After showing discontent with the fact that King of like a foreigner to ehm, they criticize the timing in which he decided to take action for his reform efforts. They say that this is untimely, even though all KIng and his followers ever did was wait as to not effect or distract from other important governmental aspects happening(concurring) when they wished to first take action. The civil rights activist approached their circumstances with much grace, peace, and manners and in return received such disrespect from the very people who should have been walking right beside them. FInally, they express a sense of anxiety over King’s “willingness to break laws” for the sake of protecting others. King takes the time to admit that his approach does take on the approach of being paradoxical, but clarifies that he fight to protect just laws and destroy the unjust laws. He shows how his supporters are breaking down the unjust laws in order to build just ones is contrary to the works being done by the white
The clergy men try to explain that the reason they chose not to support king in his efforts for racial equality is for three main reasons. They first express to KIng that he is deemed to them as an outsider and is bringing havoc contrary to peace into their homes. Yet, King should be anything but an outsider to them since he is a fellow man of God just as they are. Although they may see King as an outsider, they should still look at passages such as Exodus 22:21 and Exodus 23:9,where God commands his people to not mistreat aliens or foreigners. Instead of being hostile against KIng for being a stranger in their eyes, they should openly welcome him and seek ways to support him in what he needed to do. After showing discontent with the fact that King of like a foreigner to ehm, they criticize the timing in which he decided to take action for his reform efforts. They say that this is untimely, even though all KIng and his followers ever did was wait as to not effect or distract from other important governmental aspects happening(concurring) when they wished to first take action. The civil rights activist approached their circumstances with much grace, peace, and manners and in return received such disrespect from the very people who should have been walking right beside them. FInally, they express a sense of anxiety over King’s “willingness to break laws” for the sake of protecting others. King takes the time to admit that his approach does take on the approach of being paradoxical, but clarifies that he fight to protect just laws and destroy the unjust laws. He shows how his supporters are breaking down the unjust laws in order to build just ones is contrary to the works being done by the white