On The Duty Of Civil Disobedience Analysis

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In Martin Luther King’s “A Letter From Birmingham Jail” King addresses the criticism received from clergymen,onlookers and supporters alike. In which he states “Freedom isn’t simply given by the oppressor, it must be demanded from the oppressed.” During the 1960s in America (Civil Rights Era), King shun brightly believing that America’s racist agenda could be dismantled through unity,non-violence, along with the effective use of our rights.In this letter, King respectively addresses his business in Birmingham Jail, taking all the action he can as a citizen to further his grievances which he’s previously projected to the public. King believed though segregation was law, it was unjust and it is our right as citizens to demand change. In the …show more content…
A quote from “The Duty Of Civil Disobedience” reads“It is not a man’s duty, as a matter of course, to devote himself to the eradication of any, even the most enormous, wrong; he may still properly have other concerns to engage him; but it is his duty, at least, to wash his hands of it, and, if he gives it no thought longer, not to give it practically his support. If I devote myself to other pursuits and contemplations, I must first see, at least, that I do not pursue them sitting upon another man’s shoulders. I must get off him first, that he may pursue his own contemplations too.” Thoreau implies that as citizens we’re not morally obligated to address and tackle the world’s most monumental concerns. However, it is our obligation to be entirely committed to our case, moderate action is detrimental and ultimately counter-intuitive. Which in King’s case would mean the rights and freedoms for black people can’t be partially pursued, full commitment to liberation,justice and freedom must be undertaken at all times. In addition, just because we gather and …show more content…
Without any citizens what is a government. The sphere of influence we hold is greater than we could ever assume. It’s vital to see ourselves as important as we are. Another important advocate for rights , Wole Soyinka , writer of “A Dictator’s Nightmare” reads”The man dies in all who stay silent during direct tyranny”. This quote can be interpreted symbolically, our goals and aspirations are the man who without the exertion of our natural rights will die, We need to create this change, for if we stay silent in tyranny, or in King’s situation , Racism, change will never come about. King didn’t decline the invitation to the prison because he was aware that this was an important opportunity to take charge in this fight, we must take charge in this fight. The effects of direct action are instant, according to the text “Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and establish such creative tension that a community that has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue.we must we see the need for nonviolent gadflies to create the kind of tension in society that will help men rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood.” Without action how can one even fathom

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