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In 1842 Henry David Thoreau did not to pay his taxes. He did the same thing the following year. In 1846 he was arrested for failure to pay taxes. Thoreau decided not to pay his taxes in order to protest slavery (Dillman 1). It was an illegal arrest. The law states that imprisonment should be the last resort. The government had the power to seize Thoreau’s property, in order to pay for his taxes. However, the law was circumvented so that authorities could place him behind bars. After his release, Thoreau wrote the famous “Civil Disobedience” essay that inspired many people to speak against tyranny. It is highly probable that Martin Luther King, Jr. (“MLK”) was inspired by Thoreau’s action. In the same manner, MLK deliberately transgressed the law to compel law enforcement officials to arrest him (Peterson 502). Using the same strategy, MLK publicized his struggles by writing the “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” MLK made a compelling argument against the evils of discrimination and segregation through the said letter.
Background
MLK is known as a great speaker. However, speechmaking is not the only weapon in his arsenal. MLK is a prodigious talent when it comes to writing thought provoking letters about segregation and racism in America. On Good Friday, April 12, 1963, MLK was arrested in Birmingham, Alabama (Flora 430). The arresting officer said that he was guilty of leading an illegal demonstration. MLK did not resist the law enforcers sent to arrest him. It was the beginning of a non-violent protest that culminated in the writing of the letter.
The letter was written while he was in solitary confinement. The letter was dated April 16, 1963 (Flora 430). He was released after eight days (Flora 430). However, the letter was smuggled out of prison a few days earlier. In the first few weeks, the letter was published in pamphlet form (Flora 430). After some time, the letter was published in magazines. Millions of Americans were able to read the said letter.
Effectiveness of the Letter
A well-crafted opening statement bolstered MLK’s effective argument. MLK wrote the following: “My Dear Fellow Clergymen” (Rieder 12). The impact of the opening statement is comparable to Jesus rebuking the Pharisees of ancient Israel. The Pharisees are very religious. They follow strict rules. They sometimes go beyond the laws of God. They created their man-made laws to distinguish themselves from ordinary believers. Nevertheless, Jesus rebuked them. Jesus told them that they are hypocrites. Jesus told them that they are like whitewashed tombs. This means that they appear beautiful from the outside. But they are rotten inside.
MLK’s opening statement was an eye opener for many readers due to several reasons. First, it dispelled any notion that MLK was a radical. It dispelled any suggestion that he was a terrorist. According to one commentary: “Given his frazzled state of mind when he starts writing, the overture seems remarkable. How can one square the image of a reckless agitator with the precious formality of his greeting?” (Rieder 12). The opening statement helps establish the fact that MLK’s motive was not to create chaos.
He also created a powerful image of an intelligent and peace-loving man who was willing to go to jail for his beliefs. It is impossible to ignore acts of heroism. As a result people were compelled to listen to his argument.
There is another reason why the opening statement bolstered the effectiveness of his argument. MLK challenged one of the symbols of America’s moral authority. The ability to distinguish between right and wrong is made possible through the help of religious leaders. MLK demonstrated to the readers that even those who were supposed to know right from wrong made an error when it came to racism.
MLK made it clear that white religious leaders were not trustworthy instruments when it came to transforming America. MLK wrote the following:
In spite of my shattered dreams, I came to Birmingham with the hope that the white religious leadership of this community would see the justice of our cause and, with deep moral concern, would serve as the channel through which our just grievances could reach the power structure. I had hoped that each of you would understand. But again I have been disappointed (King par.34).
With a stroke of a pen, MLK demolished a major obstacle to social reforms. He realized that white religious leaders were very influential. They gave their approval on racism and segregation. MLK enabled the readers to see the truth.
MLK’s effective argument was bolstered by a second factor. He was able to disarm the reader’s hostility towards him. Therefore, he was very conscious of the fact that the letter will be read by millions of white people all over America. MLK needed to win them over to his side.
In order to win them over to his side, he needed to shatter their misconceptions about an African American man perceived to be the leader of mass rallies in the South. Before he wrote the letter the image of an angry protester was the only image that was accessible to the ordinary citizen. The image of the angry protester convinced white people that the protesters were agitators. However, MLK turned things around when he displayed his skills in diplomacy. There was no hint of anger in his voice.
There was a third factor that bolstered the effectiveness of MLK’s argument. MLK was able to disarm his detractors. His critics labeled him as an outsider and a troublemaker. Therefore, they expected MLK to fire back in the same way. However, MLK acknowledged the fact that he was an outsider. He also pointed out that the clergymen were sincere in their efforts to diffuse the tension within Birmingham. However, he made it clear that the clergymen were afraid to embrace change. They wanted to maintain the status quo.
Conclusion
MLK was able to develop an effective argument against racism and segregation. The effectiveness of his argument was bolstered by three factors. First, he displayed grace even when he was under tremendous pressure. Second, he demonstrated that he was not an agitator. Finally, he disarmed is opponents through his acknowledgement of their sincerity to diffuse the tension in Birmingham. As a result he was able to win them over to his side. He succeeded in creating an eye opener for the readers. As a result they were willing to listen to his argument. At the end, MLK was able to explain why white religious leaders were ineffective instruments of change. They want to end the tension, however, they were afraid to embrace change. They wanted to maintain the status quo. MLK persuaded the readers to consider the sacrifices needed to implement change. In order to abolish segregation, sacrifices had to be made. He created a powerful argument by demonstrating his willingness to go to jail.
Works Cited
Flora, Joseph. The Companion to Southern Literature. LA: Louisiana State University Press, 2002. Print.
King, Martin Luther. “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” African Studies Center. University of Pennsylvania, 1963. Web.
Peterson, Linda. The Norton Reader: An Anthology of Nonfiction. New York: Norton & Company, 2011. Print.
Rieder, Jonathan. Gospel of Freedom. New York: Blumsbury Press, 2013. Print.
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