Pinson, Zachary: Diversity

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an important leader in American history. He stood firmly for the rights of all citizens and fought to gain equality for the African Americans in the United States, but he did so through a nonviolent and peaceful course of action. When the clergy of the White churches wrote saying that his actions were ‘unwise and untimely’ Dr. King wrote his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” from his cell to explain to them why they were wrong and why his actions and his timing were justified. He explained to them in a way that they, as educated men and men of the church, would be able to understand clearly. He used the allusion of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refusing to bow before the idol of Nebuchadnezzar to show them that just because something is a law does not make it right if it goes against the will of. The African Americans in the United States and especially in Birmingham during this time needed to stand up for their rights, but also to do so in a way that was peaceful. They didn’t riot and attack officials, damage property, or anything like that. They simply refused to obey the laws that were unjust and oppressing them, and they accepted the consequences of their actions without struggle. Dr. King went peacefully to jail because he knew that he had broken the law, whether it was a just law or not, and he would have to accept his punishment. Evil laws are used for evil purposes and Dr. King’s example of Hitler’s law stating that anyone helping the Jews would be punished by death showed this clearly. The law was clear and it was a law made by the leader of that country, but the Hungarian Freedom Fighters knew that it was and unjust law and they disobeyed it because they knew it was the right thing to do. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was right in his actions and it was his leadership that made the Civil Rights movement progress as swiftly as it did.