Nothing should segregate people from one another, let alone create laws allowing it. The 1963 Birmingham protests, led by Martin Luther King Jr, were necessary to obtain the needed attention and to highlight the pressing need for change in the way society (and laws) treated the “Negroes” at that time.
The white clergymen who wrote A Call for Unity suggested that the Blacks stop the protests and start local negotiations instead. In Martin Luther King’s letter response to that article, he calmly and in an inoffensive voice clarified that a local negotiation was indeed needed, but was simply not given. Negotiations were being turned down, and words like “wait” were thrown in their faces. That was why nonviolent protests had to be conducted.
What else could the Black community of that time do? Compared to the White community, the Black community was given fewer opportunities, privileges, and respect. Their voices and opinions were not heard and if they were heard, they were still ignored. How else could they make their opinions and needs heard loud and clear? Nonviolent protests and meetings were then apt and necessary, nonviolent being the keyword. Martin Luther King said in his letter, “Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue.”
God made all men equal. It is we humans who distort that equality and create social rankings among ourselves. Had Martin Luther King and the Black populace of the 1960’s decided to accept their place and just do and say nothing, like they were told to do, the world would probably still be segregated, ugly and unjust.
Well said. Good post.
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