In the 1960’s there was a huge controversy between white clergymen and Martin Luther King Jr. Birmingham, Alabama was very racially divided in 1963. Both individuals and court systems treated Negros unfairly, and segregation was a part of everyday life. Nancy V. Wood, author of the book Essentials of Argument, wrote that “black people were only allowed to sit in certain parts of buses and restaurants… [and] were not allowed in white churches, schools, or various other public places” (2011, p. 170). After many years of injustice, the black people became extremely tired of being treated unfairly and decided to take a stand. As a result, Martin Luther King Jr. went to Alabama to lead Birmingham’s Negro citizens in peaceful protest. While he was
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and all other Negros should practice patience during the segregation period; Martin Luther King Jr. felt that Negros have been patient for long enough, as he countered, “We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God Given rights” (1963, p. 178), and his rebuttals continued throughout “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. White moderates like the clergymen agreed with most of King’s claim, (and this became one of King’s warrants, as he agreed with some of their points) but the clergymen felt that his approach caused a high amount of tension and questioned why negotiation was not a wiser decision. King replied that “Nonviolent direct action [what he considered protesting to be] seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community in which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue” (1963, p. 177). The white moderates held the warrant that civil rights leaders were “outside agitators” (Carpenter et al., 1963, p. 174) in racial issues, but King disagreed and said, “Anyone who lives in the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds” (1963, p. 176). In the clergymen’s letter the point made was that “the law enforcement [should] remain calm and continue to protect our city from violence” (Carpenter et. al, 1963, p.174). Although the clergymen thought the police were rightfully protecting all citizens, that was not the case and was a fallacy. King argued the following
and all other Negros should practice patience during the segregation period; Martin Luther King Jr. felt that Negros have been patient for long enough, as he countered, “We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God Given rights” (1963, p. 178), and his rebuttals continued throughout “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. White moderates like the clergymen agreed with most of King’s claim, (and this became one of King’s warrants, as he agreed with some of their points) but the clergymen felt that his approach caused a high amount of tension and questioned why negotiation was not a wiser decision. King replied that “Nonviolent direct action [what he considered protesting to be] seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community in which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue” (1963, p. 177). The white moderates held the warrant that civil rights leaders were “outside agitators” (Carpenter et al., 1963, p. 174) in racial issues, but King disagreed and said, “Anyone who lives in the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds” (1963, p. 176). In the clergymen’s letter the point made was that “the law enforcement [should] remain calm and continue to protect our city from violence” (Carpenter et. al, 1963, p.174). Although the clergymen thought the police were rightfully protecting all citizens, that was not the case and was a fallacy. King argued the following