Civil rights were an extremely serious matter in the 1960s when “A Call for Unity” and “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” were written. Civil rights are the rights to full legal, social, and economic equality; for so long these rights were denied to the African-American population. Dr. King understood these rights, expressed their importance, and stood up against his oppressors. Dr. King made several points that hit a nerve for me: one being the necessity of peaceful protest, another being the difference between just and unjust laws. Finally Dr. King stressed the importance of the church in the civil rights movement.
“A Call for Unity” called for an end of the African-American demonstrations that were taking place in Birmingham at that time. The authors of this letter recognized “the natural impatience of people who feel that their hopes are slow in being realized” but were unwilling to accept the nonviolent protests the activists conducted. The clergymen of Birmingham called for negotiation in lieu of direct action, such as sit ins and marches. However, if the protestors did not take direct action and stand up for what they were fighting for the white population would have no reason to agree to negotiate. The protesters’ actions eventually brought on a willingness to negotiate, a willingness that would not have been there otherwise. The clergymen of Birmingham requested of the citizens to “observe the principles of law and order and common sense.” Those laws could be classified as unjust. Some say an unjust law is no law at all; I tend to agree with that. Laws are put in place to better the community; if a law is doing just the opposite, it is an unjust law.
Dr. King had been brought up in a Christian home; he learned the morals and values established by the church. Morals and values are two words of great importance in any Christian home. Dr. King entered the civil rights movement believing that he would be supported by the White church, that they would be among his “strongest allies;” instead they became “outright opponents.” How could churches in the South refuse to stand up for their so called morals and values? No person could truly call them self a Christian and tolerate the unjust ways the African American community was treated in the days of the civil rights movement.
Dr. King was an impressive man. He understood civil rights, expressed their importance and stood up against his oppressors. After reading his letter I now understand necessity of peaceful protest and difference between just and unjust laws. I have never understood why the White church never took on a larger part in the civil rights movement, and probably never will. I commend Dr. King for the steps he took in the civil rights movement.
No comments:
Post a Comment