Lee, Terence: Diversity

Respect. There is no other more appropriate word I can think of. Coming from a foreign country, I am not very familiar with US History. But after reading "Letter from Birmingham Jail,"I have nothing short of respect and admiration for Martin Luther King, Jr. I know I am in no place to say this due to my origin, but who's to say what the current state interracial relations would be what it is today without his hard work and sacrifice. He spoke out for what he believed in, fought for what he and countless others knew were right but were too afraid to voice out.

    King's hard work and dedication defined what countless African-Americans have today, freedom. As far as I know, a clear margin existed in the past between Caucasian Americans and African-Americans solely due to the fact that African-Americans were thought to be second class citizens and had been treated as slaves. King's actions should have been commended instead of being criticized as 'untimely and unwise.' He realized that freedom would not be voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.

  
On another side, were The Alabama Clergymen who wrote "A Call For Unity." They were the ones who deemed King's actions as 'untimely and unwise'. From my perspective, I believe these men did not comprehend the gravity of the situation. They might be able to read the text, but they do not see what is hidden between the lines. They requested African-Americans to withdraw from the demonstrations. The clergymen argued and due to that when rights were consistently denied, a cause should be pressed in the courts, in negotiations among local leaders, and not in the streets. What these clergymen did not realize is that nothing will be given voluntarily, there is no time to wait for freedom to be given, these demonstrations were the acts of the oppressed demanding what they deserved.

  
Since freedom became ubiquitous, it has since been taken for granted. There are people today who lack the respect and appreciation for the well-known and unsung heroes of the past who have sacrificed a lot so that the future generations could savor in the fruits of their labor. The level of freedom in America today would not be where it is today if it weren't for them.