Martin Luther King, Jr. is a famous name in the entire world, particularly in America. He was a minister and a militant under African-American Civil Rights Movement. He played a principle role in the American civil rights movement with all his energy from 1950 until he was assassinated in 1968 (Ling, 2015). He had the passion and the heart to fight for all sorts of injustices in America via peaceful demonstration, such as fighting for African American equality, the poor, as well as those individuals who fell under injustice. He did so much that he is remembered every year in America, but most importantly, his efforts on civil rights were mighty but had he been more aggressive to use physical power and retaliation where possible, he would have been more effective.
When writing the “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther explains bitterly how racial discrimination is prominent in Birmingham. He says that Negros is discriminated against by all means, and to make it worse, they are being discriminated against by those personnel set aside to protect them. For instance, the brutal killing by police, unresolved bombing, as well as favor in courts. Had he the means for instance to remove the judicial personnel and police department by force, things could have been different, and all those injustices and racial discrimination could not have been there (King & Vivian, 2013). Besides, police are supposed to protect the people, but their dogs brutally bit unarmed Negros without purpose, and if he acted more aggressively, he would have called for the immediate dismissal of those police and their arrest to face the law (King & Vivian, 2013).
He is angered by Americans who can easily make the laws and be the first to break them. For instance, he is pleased by the fact that the supreme court orders people to outlaw segregation in public schools, but unfortunately, the whites are cannot adhere to this law just because it does not fit them. If perhaps he had the power and the might to punish all those that went against this law, things could have been different, or rather, if he was more aggressive to see that the supreme court punished those that endorsed segregation. He would have pushed for new laws that will see the rebels behind bars to be an example to others, but peaceful demonstrations only could not work (King & Vivian, 2013).
Martin Luther is so much disappointed about the church of his time. Comparing the early church and his current time, he saw a very big rift between the two. The church is a place that should unite people together regardless of the skin color, but that is not the case. Religious leaders cannot bring the people together, but instead, they widen the gap between the whites and the black. Instead of people worshipping together, white leaders have their own churches that no black is welcome. Instead of white religious people bringing people together to worship, they claim that racial injustice is a social thing beyond the control of the church (King & Vivian, 2013). If Martin Luther had the power to act, he would have punished those leaders according to the law that called for desegregation, but unfortunately, he had no such powers. However, if he was more aggressive towards such leaders and call for their resignation, things could have been different.
When giving a speech on “I have a Dream”, Martin Luther King continues to show disappointment on the racial discrimination that is prominent in America. His concern is still on Negros who have neither freedom nor justice, and they are viewed like strangers in their own land (Vail, 2006). Besides, despite the fact that Negros is brutally mistreated by police, they cannot lodge in highway motels and any other places declared “For whites only”. Negros cannot even vote, and he had been more aggressive to force for equality, justice and security for all people regardless of the color, things could have been different.
He has faith that things will be change in future. He believes that one day the whites and the blacks will work together and walk holding each other’s hands like sisters and brothers. He has faith that the blacks will soon have the freedom they have always wanted, as well as the respect they deserve. However, faith alone cannot work. Having faith that everything will turn as he expected could not do anything, but rather, action was all he needed. He had to act, to ensure that the police stop the brutal killing and mistreatment of the Negros. He needed to act to ensure that the black person can lodge at the same place with the white, as well as hold peaceful demonstration together towards equality. He ought to have been more aggressive on this issue, and use physical force where applicable, for instance, on the issues of police mistreating the Negros (Vail, 2006)
In conclusion, Martin Luther King Jr. tried all the means to fight for the civil rights of the black people in American soil. However, some of his efforts did not mature because technically speaking, he was too soft. Holding peaceful demonstration everyday meant nothing, because they left neither a trail nor impact. All he needed is to implement his ideas into action, and take legal actions to all that went against the law. Besides, they wanted equality, but unless he showed what the blacks are capable of, nothing could have been done. Therefore, had Martin Luther been more aggressive, he would have accomplished his goal with an ease.
References
King, M. L., & Vivian, C. T. (2013). Letter from Birmingham Jail. Arguing About Law, 254.
Ling, P. J. (2015). Martin Luther King, Jr. Routledge.
Vail, M. (2006). The" Integrative" Rhetoric of Martin Luther King Jr.'s" I Have a Dream" Speech. Rhetoric & Public Affairs, 9(1), 51-78.
