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Introduction
In the Letter from Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King Jr. postulates that although civil protest is an illegitimate form of confronting the institutions of inequality, it is an ethically correct action because of the injustice that it brings to oppressed groups. To be more specific, this legendary message from King Jr. is a reaction to the criticisms, concerns, and cautions of influential religious figures in the American South that they voiced in response to Martin’s involvement in non-violent protest (King Jr., 1963, para. 1).
Discussion
One of the central statements that the prominent Black political activist makes in this letter is that one of the things that justifies the initiation and participation of illegal non-violent activism is one’s awareness of structural inequality (King Jr., 1963, para. 6). Only with accurate knowledge and a well-developed understanding, people can have a genuine, sincere motive and, therefore, a logical reason for opposing evil. When an individual knows, he also acquires a moral and civic duty to act to establish social equality where it is not present.
The following critical statement of King Jr. is that the first action should always be an attempt to establish a dialogue between the oppressed and the oppressor. He believed that the most humane and civilized measures, such as negotiating sessions, should come first (King Jr., 1963, para. 7). They are not only conventional forms of bringing attention to socio-economic issues but also the least harmful to communities. His next point is that if the parties fail to negotiate or the representatives of the injustice institutions break their promises to end oppression and inequality, one should clear their mind of false hopes (King Jr., 1963, para. 8). They should introspect whether they are mentally and physically ready to initiate or participate in direct action.
Conclusion
Honesty with oneself and inner confidence are other aspects that justify a non-violent demonstration for their protestors. According to King Jr., inner purity grants a person the courage to protest and endure punishment (King Jr., 1963, para. 8). From his style of writing, this courage is similar to that of the Christian righteous.
Reference
King Jr., M. L. (1963). Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘Letter from Birmingham jail.’ The Atlantic. Web.
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