Western Cultures Quiz 2

Sidney Shemanski

Professor Beatty

Letter From Birmingham Jail

When Martin Luther King Junior wrote this letter, he was imprisoned due to nonviolent

demonstrations against segregation in Birmingham. This letter was specifically a response to a

public statement of concern and caution issued by white religious leaders of the South. If I were

to place a label on this text being conservative, liberal, or socialist work, I would certainly decide

liberalism. The act of Martin Luther King standing up for his own race and wanting to make a

change in the world is an act of liberalism itself.

Liberalism, by definition, is a political and moral philosophy based on the rights of the

individual, liberty, consent of the governed and equality before the law. Martin believes that

everyone should be treated equally no matter what color they are and makes a lot of effort for it

to be this way. To put in perspective, he was even sent to jail for his nonviolent campaigns and

objections, however he continued to follow his dream of equality and didn't let anyone stop him.

Conservatives in opposition, value the traditional ways and wish to maintain the status quo. King

obviously wanted to reform society and to uproot the system of Jim Crow laws which is an act of

liberalism. He mentions he is in Birmingham because injustice is here which is a threat to justice

everywhere, which Martin desperately wants to change. He is so passionate to put an end to

racism in America through nonviolent campaigns through the collection of the facts to determine

whether injustices are alive, negotiation, self-purification, and direct action. He calls out

Birmingham saying there have been more unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches here

and it is the most segregated city of the United States. All throughout his letter gives me reasons
to believe that this is liberal work especially when Martin says, “You express a great deal of

anxiety over our willingness to break laws.” This just proves again that Martin is willing to

change society and is very open to new ideas. He wants to really go away from the traditional

ways, which in this case is racism and people being treated very unfairly.

Martin then goes into very detailed examples of why the governmental society is run so

discriminatory towards African Americans. He says, “...when you suddenly find your tongue

twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six-year-old daughter why

she cannot go to the public amusement park.” This just puts into perspective as to why he is so

willing to make a change, so racism no longer exists.

Therefore, with many examples of liberalism, there is an appearance of conservatism

throughout the letter. The government itself, being against Martin’s views is an act of

conservatism due to the fact that they are not open to change or new values. Even though Martin

brings awareness to the unfair laws and mistreatment of the African Americans, they do not want

to change anything and ignore the truth that they are being incredibly mistreated from the whites.

Martin says, “For years now I have heard the word ‘wait.’ It rings in the ear of every Negro with

piercing familiarity. This ‘wait’ has almost always meant ‘never.’” This just proves that the

conservatives of the government have not wanted to change the laws and make it illegal for

segregation to occur.

The eight white Alabama clergymen who were against King and his methods, are an

example of conservatism itself. They called Martin’s present activities “unwise and untimely”

and called Martin and his people “outsiders coming in.” This letter, the eight men wrote, was

called, “A Call for Unity,” which urged activists to engage in local negotiations and to use the
courts if rights were being denied. Like I mentioned before, Martin wrote this letter in response

to the eight men who wrote about him.