Sams, Sawyer: Diversity

The letters, “A Call for Unity” and “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” both address the issue of segregation and civil rights movements during the 1960s. Each letter shows a different perspective of the subject allowing a better understanding of how each side feels about it.
   
The clergymen behind “A Call for Unity” saw the civil rights demonstrations as disruptive and unnecessary. They believed the demonstrators should take more peaceful action by going to officials and the courts. When Martin Luther King Jr. wrote “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” he made it clear that they tried to go about these issues peacefully, but no action was taken in response to their peaceful actions. King argued that their demonstrations were the only way to get these issues recognized. The clergymen also said the demonstrations were “unwise and untimely.” King argued this also by asking how much longer should they wait before they take action.
   
While I understand what the clergymen wanted, King had some valid points. He and the rest of the Black community felt that not enough action had been taken in desegregating their communities. I also agree with King when he said the demonstrations were not “ unwise and untimely.” I believe they were long overdue since the treatment of Black people in many public places had not been changed. I think their demonstrations were needed since sufficient changes in the civil rights of Black people were not shown. Their demonstrations were an effective way of showing what they wanted.  Eventually, they led to more changes being made and a fairer way of life.