Reading Log 4: Letter from Birmingham Jail

     In this week's reading, we read Martin Luther King's Letter from Birmingham Jail. In his letter, Dr. King expressed his views in light of his fellow clergymen's opinion on his activity during the sit-ins. Martin Luther King talks about civil disobedience and how he hopes that this drastically changes the way America was during his time period. He argued that "in any nonviolent campaign, there are four basic steps: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self-purification; and direct action" (215). Since King and his followers have already done the first three steps, he says that they had no other choice but to initiate direct action because they were so unhappy with how things are and how they are segregated.
     King also argues that "Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever. The yearning for freedom eventually manifests itself, and that is what has happened to the American Negro" (223). They are so fed up with the unfairness and injustices that exist between the white community and the black community that they finally said enough is enough and that it is time to stand up and gain their equality and freedom. The Negroes have been disregarded for the longest time and the time has come for the public to hear their bottled up emotions. King states that "If one recognizes this great urge that has engulfed the Negro community, one should readily understand why public demonstrations are taking place" (223). In this statement, Kings states that unless the law makers recognize the Negro community's extreme thirst for freedom, the Negro community will keep on doing what they are already doing (sit ins and such) and there will be no forward progress until the law makers recognize their cause.