Emerson, Sarah: Diversity

Although the eight white clergy men's criticisms were "sincerely set forth," their inability to experience the African Americans' struggle during 1963, ultimately caused their ignorance to why the nonviolent demonstrations were needed.

The eight clergymen were natives to Birmingham, Alabama, one of the prime locations in America where Black citizens were denied their rights due to racism. I understand the point of view the clergymen had; to seek justice through the legal system instead of creating tension with demonstrations. Nevertheless, the clergymen were unaware of how deeply embedded racism was in the legal system. The court system was not going to bring change. Martin Luther King Jr. illustrates for the reader how African Americans became agonized with the legal system because they put off racial issues instead of confronting them. "Wait" became a very painful word, because after generations of patience, the word "wait" became "never." The white politicians in Birmingham ultimately didn't want the Black race to be able to exercise their rights, which resulted in their procrastination: "Justice too long delayed is justice denied." Constant rejection in the legal system called for a more direct offense to gain civil rights.

Martin Luther King Jr. was referred as an "outsider looking in" by the clergymen. Despite Luther's organization being located in Atlanta, Georgia his message was universal. I agree with his statement about how location is irrelevant: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." If these human rights organizations had not gotten involved, Birmingham's injustice would've threatened African Americans' citizenship across America. What the clergymen failed to recognize is how the generations of hardship caused the Black race to take any threat very seriously. The clergymen never had to endure the "stinging darts of segregation." Their children never had a "cloud of inferiority" fill their minds. The clergy men never had witnessed their loved ones being lynched or hurt by an angry White mob. The clergymen should not judge the organizations' tactics, because the White clergymens' opinion will always be biased. They were unable to take a walk in a black man's shoes, and cannot understand how it feels to have your freedom threatened.

The nonviolent demonstration is a effective option, and I admire whoever decided to use it. Creating a circumstance that legal action must be taken, all while maintaining one's dignity, creates a losing situation for the opponent. "The process of self purification" humbles the direct action. Martin Luther King Jr. and other activists underwent a workshop on nonviolence. They asked themselves questions like: "Are you able to accept blows without retaliating?" and "Are you able to deal the ordeal of jail?" Upholding high standards, while the white mobs responded with violence proved to the community and the nation who was in the wrong. The white clergymen may not like the tension the demonstrations caused between races in Birmingham, but they cannot argue that it is unmoral or unethical.

In conclusion, the actions of Martin Luther King Jr. were done for specific reasons. The intentions of the eight White clergymen may have been to maintain peace, but their lack of experience and knowledge about the movement caused their biased opinion.