Q. 1
Dr. King counters the “outside agitator” viewpoint held by the Birmingham clergy by claiming that the affiliates in Birmingham had asked him as well as his staff to engage in a non-violent direct action program if people would appreciate it. According to King, he and his people lived up to their promises. Besides, he distances himself as an outside agitator by claiming that injustice was not only affecting the people of Birmingham, but also people in other cities. Therefore, through organizational ties, he had to help the inhabitants of Birmingham to secure a working solution.
Q. 2
King responded to the “unwise and untimely” claims by saying that, from his experiences, the oppressor does not give freedom to his subjects voluntarily. Instead, the oppressed must demand it. As a result, his participation was well timed. He suggests that it is incredibly easy for those who have never suffered to postpone any restorative efforts. It is not until they experience oppression or suffering that directly relates to them that they will be willing to speed up any corrective action. In my opinion, this response is logical in many ways. A person who has never experienced a problem will never act. They will not understand the circumstances that pressure the affected people to clamor for solutions. However, when a person is part of the oppressed, they will see and understand some of the reasons why the oppressed call for liberty and freedom.
Q. 3
King clearly differentiates between just and unjust laws. He underlines that a just law is a manmade code, which squares with the law of God, also called the moral law. It is a law that uplifts one’s responsibility. On the other hand, an unjust law refers to code, which is not in harmony with the moral standards. Such a law is rooted neither in natural or eternal law.
Q. 4
In the letter, it is appropriate to imply that King is disappointed with the White moderates since they hinder or derail the Blacks’ ability to achieve freedom. The White moderates, according to King, are committed to order, as opposed to justice. At the same time, he is inclined towards negative peace as opposed to a positive one.
Q.5
According to King, the two opposing forces that stand in the middle of the black community are the force of complacency and bitterness as well as hatred. In his view, blacks are part of the complacency since they do not have self-respect or a sense of “somebodiness” owing to the long period they were subjected to oppression. The force is also due to a few middle-class blacks who have benefited from the oppression; therefore, have a certain degree of economic and academic security. The second force is evident in the diverse Black Nationalist groups. These groups are comprised of people whose faith in America has disintegrated, and they have repudiated Christianity. Moreover, they have acknowledged that the white man is an incurable evil.
Q. 6
Dr. King is clearly disappointed with the White Church. While there are several exceptions, he does not consider its leadership as appropriate.
Q. 7
According to King, the clergy’s statement is a contrasting picture. He says that the police dogs critically injured the unarmed and non-violent blacks. Additionally, the incarcerated individuals were incarcerated were subjected to inhuman treatments. The police also treat the elderly black women as well as the young girls from the community inhumanely. Besides, the police mistreat young and old black men. On several occasions, the police also failed to give the blacks food since they wanted to sing their grace in unison.
Q. 8
According to Dr. King, the real heroes in the American South are all those people, whether blacks or whites and whether young or old. Heroes are those who will stand against segregation, those who will not engage in violent activities, and those who will be ready to suffer for the sake of their conscience.
Q. 9
Indeed, Kings Letter has a great influence. It is not only informative, but also enlightening and motivating. It is informative in the sense that it helps the readers to understand the struggles that confronted the blacks in the past. It is enlightening as it provides the readers with action models, which they can incorporate when seeking for their rights, or where they want the government to institute a particular restorative action.
Work Cited
King Jr, Martin Luther. "Letter from Birmingham jail." UC Davis L. Rev. 26 (1992): 519-524.
