Reading Log 3: First Response to Martin Luther King's Letter From Birmingham

The acclaimed, influential Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a letter to a group of clergymen while in prison. He was imprisoned because of his sit-in programs in cafeterias. There was massive segregation going on during time, and Martin Luther King Jr. was fiercely against it. King was ready to suffer for what he believed in, which helps explain the actions that caused his imprisonment.

At the time, Birmingham was the most segregated city in the United States. Many African-Americans there were treated brutally. The leaders of the African-American community tried negotiating with the city leaders so that their people could be treated more fairly. False promises were made by the city leaders and the merchants, which invoked King to take action.

King and his followers used the method of direct action. There were sit-ins, marches and other types of rallies. It took me a while to understand how marches would help in King's cause. What the marches and rallies did was cause tension in the city leaders. This tension helped direct the leaders' attention towards the problem. The direct action procedure also helped open up negotiations again. The city leaders have to confront King's followers about their direct action, and the only way to confront the issue is to negotiate with the ones would are causing the issue! King's brilliant plan to obtain Human Rights for the African-Americans was set in motion.

King even chose the perfect time for direct action - during Easter season, one of the main shopping periods of the year. This was a great time to put pressure on the merchants since they were already under a load of pressure because of business. King rescheduled his direct action plans, however, for after the Mayor Election day as he deemed it a better time.

King was passionate about his community. He wanted to see them be treated equal to the Caucasians. He believed that segregation was sinful and that no one should be treated like an outsider when they live in the United States. He also believed that it was a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws, such as laws made solely to target African-Americans.

Another thing King believed was that freedom is not given freely. It has to be demanded by the people seeking freedom. I find the statement, "freedom is not given freely," ironic because freedom itself is not free.