Letter From Birmingham Jail

While sitting in his prison cell, Martin Luther King Jr writes a letter addressing the clergymen of Birmingham. His letter is a response to a statement made by the clergymen, which consisted of a plea to end the demonstrations being made by blacks in the community. The demonstrations are considered to by untimely along with unnecessary. King's letter is a response to their statement, and provides evidence of why the demonstrations are happening, and why they need to happen. King expresses the desire for negotiations with the clergymen, but the disappointment of broken promises in the past. Reasons why segregation between the races is harmful is covered from all aspects, politically, economically and socially. King advocates respecting and obeying law, but classifies law into two types, just and unjust. Segregation is put under unjust laws, but the penalty's should be taken openly and lovingly. King's letter explains to the clergymen, and all others who support segregation, the harm that is being done by such. His writing is processional, and after reading gives an understanding to the behavior of African Americans within the community. The letter places the reader into the position where blacks were at the time, and sheds light on the strong emotions brought by it.