The Letter from Birmingham Jail was written while Dr. King was in jail on charges brought up from protesting against segregation. The letter was written in response to some clergymen, who questioned his methods of fighting against the problem of segregation. One point they brought up was that negotiation would have been a better path to a peaceful agreement, but Dr. King followed the direct action method. The Clergymen also argued against Dr. King, stating that he was an outsider getting involved in the business of Birmingham. But Dr. King stated, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (1). Dr. King emphasizes the need for people of all races and background to stand together, and the need to strengthen our brotherhood in fighting against our struggles.
In his essay “The Concept of Nonviolence in the Political Theology of Martin Luther King” professor Krzysztof Brzechczyn states that Dr. King uses political theology to stand up against segregation. He states that there are three dimensions to political theology; “descriptive-description of social reality in ethical categories; normative-a project of the ideal society which manifests God’s purpose and reflects his moral patterns; pragmatic- reflection on the adequate selection of tools and means allowing for transition from real state of affairs to a postulated one”(128). He addresses that the theological thought of Dr. King uses all three of the dimensions; Dr. King describes and criticizes the racial segregation that was taking place around America, and how millions of Black people were affected; he also proposes an ideal society, where black people were treated fairly, and got the equal opportunity to function in society with their white brothers; finally, Dr. King’s nonviolent method was part of the pragmatic dimension of his political theology method.
Dr. King’s number one method of fighting against the injustice of segregation was done through nonviolent and direct action way. The Clergyman and other political figures at the time were calling for negotiation instead of direct action, but Dr. King argued that “Nonviolent direct action seeks to create suck a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue”(2). There have been many attempts made by Dr. King and other leaders of the movement to bring change and end segregation using non-confrontational methods, but non have worked. Dr. King knew that in order bring growth within the movement and reach success for human equality, there had to actions taken, because the struggle couldn’t wait anymore. The tensions that he was creating were meant to open the eyes of the oppressors. “The purpose of our direct action program is to create a situation so crisis packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation.”(2). He knew that change was not going to come unless peoples daily lives were affected, not by violence, but by bringing the issue to where it resides. Freedom is something that people have to fight for, because oppressors are not going to give it voluntarily, and in order to demand freedom, the oppressed have to stand up, and show that they have the power and intelligence to redeem the freedom they have been deprived from. Dr. King brought up the fact that freedom is in our human nature, and because of that, if we repress our emotion and don’t release it in a nonviolent way, it will come out through violence. Professor Brzechczyn
stated in his article that the reason Dr. King chose the nonviolent method was because “such a political strategy strengthens man’s tendency towards the right”(130). Violence bring violence, therefore excluding the method of political struggle based on violence will bring forward a calmly storm. Violence does not solve problems; it just causes more violence to follow. Professor Brzechczyn also discusses that the method of nonviolence is a great representation of the Christian theology of loving once neighbors. Another criticism that was brought up by the Clergymen was that the protest was untimely, to which Dr. King responded by bringing up the fact that black people have been waiting 340 years for our constitutional rights, waiting to be treated equally, and be treated with basic human respect from our white brothers. There was slavery, which then lead to segregation after the abolishment. Both are inhumane and immoral, because all humans have God given rights that allows us to live freely in a thriving society.
The Clergymen also expressed their concerns of Dr. King’s willingness to break laws. Dr. King argues that there are two types of laws in the world; there are just laws, and unjust laws. He states that “ A just law is a man made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law.”(3-4). Laws that are functioning correctly are meant to help us thrive and grow while maintaining peace and order. But the laws that were in place during segregation were doing exactly the opposite. The laws that were in place were used to dehumanize and oppress whole race, while denying them freedom to function in society with the same equality as others. Dr. King argues that segregation was unjust, because it distorts the soul and damages the personality of the oppressed. Every singly human has a moral calling to stand up against unfair laws that are directly harming people. When choosing to stand up against an injustice law, Dr. King states that we have to be willing to face the consequences, such as going to jail, or injuries. He states that people, who follow their moral conscious to go against a law and receive the penalty for it, will most likely bring forward the awareness of the community.
Another important subject brought up by Dr. King in his letter was his concerns with the white church leaders. He expresses his disappointment in their response to the struggle of segregation. Church leaders are servers of God, and therefore, they have the moral responsibility to stand up against injustice that takes always humans God given rights. But Dr. King states that instead of being their strongest allies, the church were opponents; “Instead, some have been outright opponents, refusing to understand the freedom movement and misrepresenting its leadership; all too many others have been more cautious then courageous and have remained silent behind the anesthetizing security of stained glass windows” (7). The church is the body of Christ, but neglecting your fellow christens because of the fear of being nonconformists is a disgrace. Christians are called to obey God, not man; therefore following the law of segregation was e law of man, and not the will of God because they are afraid of breaking the status quo. Dr. King’s purpose for writing the paper was to show the criticism that the civil rights movement was getting, and to address the theory behind the methods he was using to fight against segregation. We have a moral responsibility not just as Christians but also as humans to fight against injustice that suppresses/oppresses human being, because change comes to those who seek it through direct action.
