Orsak, Tori: Diversity

The injustice of segregation is a very emotional topic that seems to swell up an ocean of words. One such wave came from some White clergymen, leaders of the Birmingham community, who asked the “Negro” population to refrain from protesting, the only thing that seem to make an impact. They tried to justify their request by offering the alternative of justice in court, what they seemed to forget so easily was that segregation had already spread to the courts. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. addressed their request in a letter; he confronted their claims of being outside by saying, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” These clergymen had turned a blind eye to the brutality being faced by Black Americans and then had the gall to ask these people to quiet down! Dr. King reminded them of the bombings and beatings faced by his people, and of the many deaf community who wanted things to remain as they were.  In response to their thoughtless request for the “Negros” to sit down and shut up, Dr. King tried to make them understand that when people are being treated unfairly and unjustly then the only thing they have left is to cry out in the streets and cause their community to be still and take notice. These White men simply wanted to keep control and were made uncomfortable by any action taken by the Black community seeking their rights. Their alternative, addressing a White led court with the issues had been tried and had failed. Dr. King’s response to these White men was that as long as his people sat back and allowed injustice to continue then they would never receive justice. However, a people who rose up and spoke out as a group would shake the foundations of this nation.  “Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear drenched communities, and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 1963. I hope I live to see the day Dr. King so poetically foresaw because even 47 years from the day he wrote it this nation is still not colorblind.