Martin Luther was writing this letter from prison, where he was being held for participating in peaceful demonstrations. This is because Birmingham was one of the most segregationist towns in the country. The idea was to create tension in the region and force the leaders of that region to consider negotiations, without having to resort to violence.
In the letter from Birmingham jail, Martin Luther talks about the plight of the oppressed in general, and specifically, that of the oppressed and discriminated black person in America. Although the letter is primarily about the plight of the oppressed black man and the discrimination he faces, he is also considerate of the pain and suffering of other people all over the world. He believes that it is necessary for the oppressed to take whichever action necessary to achieve their freedom, and more so if they do it without violence. He believes in direct action, sit-ins and marches, but only if negotiation fails.
King is interested in the liberation of oppressed people everywhere. However, he does not appear to be aware of the suffering of women. To some degree, it appears that Martin Luther King is not concerned with the issues affecting women specifically. In the letter, Martin Luther does not say anything about the needs of women. The only way in which he describes the plight of women is in connection to their cause, the fight for the end of racial segregation.
Although King fought for equality of all people, he does not seem to have much regard for women. The issues affecting women are not mentioned, and the only time he uses them is when making illustrations or emphasizing a point. One point where he mentions women is in reference to his six- year- old daughter asking him why she is not allowed into the amusement park reserved for white children. From his illustration, it appears that he sees women as weak and emotional. This is seen in the crying child and the attitude she later forms towards whites. He also mocked the ungrammatical language spoken by the old woman in the bus in Montgomery, Alabama, even though he was proud of her strong stand and refusal to bow to oppression. He also referred to their movement as The Brotherhood, making it more masculine.
However, he recognizes the role played by some of the women in their cause. This include s both white and black women. One of the white people he mentioned as having been instrumental in fighting for their cause was Lillian Smith, a white woman. He also recognizes the role played by the old woman on the bus who refused to travel in segregated buses, even though it meant standing all the way.
Although King does not appear to see a direct relationship between matters of racial equality and the issues affecting women, it is likely that should they choose to fight against the oppression they face, he would stand with them. This is because he is very opposed to people who do not take sides in such matters. He considers them worse than those who support oppression are. This is seen in the vocal manner in which he criticizes the church for failing to protect the oppressed. He also strongly believed that all people were equal, and that their rights should never be violated. He would therefore support their cause with the same intensity he supported the fight for racial equality.
Works Cited
King, Martin Luther. "The Negro Is Your Brother." The Atlantic Monthly August 1963: 78 - 88.
Print.
Luther, Martin. Works of Martin Luther. Philadelphia : A.J. Holman Company, 1915. Print.
