Letter From Birmingham Jail
...or being there. The discrimination here had nothing much to do with his skin color. The discrimination was against his cause and purpose for being there. King expressed how “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” The clergymen's statement detested the fact that the demonstrations were taking place in Birmingham but King pointed out that the statement “fails to express a similar concern for the conditions that brought about the demonstrations.” King states how “it is unfortunate the demonstrations are taking place in Birmingham, but it is even more unfortunate that the city’s white power structure left the Negro community with no alternative.” The blacks in Birmingham experienced unjust treatment in the courts, their homes and in their churches. Their lives and rights were violated and many innocent people lost their lives, even as they lived. The black leaders at the time tried many times to meet and negotiate with the city leaders. King states “but the latter consistently refused to engage in good-faith negotiation.” The demonstrations were happening because there was a time when the black leaders were able to come to an agreement with the Birmingham’s economic community. The promise to remove signs that were humiliating to the black community was either never removed, or they were removed and put back. It was an unashamed disrespect to the black community and reeked of racism and discrimination. When the black leaders saw that nothing was going to change, they then decided to prepare for direct-action. Even then, the leaders made postponements because of the mayoral election, which was taking place at that time. Repeatedly the black leaders tried to be patient and understanding but could never receive the same in return. When the clergymen asked, “why not just negotiate?” King explained to them “the purpose of our direct-action program is to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation.” King and all of the black leaders in Birmingham had showed good faith when it came to negotiations; however, the white power structure of Birmingham never seemed to try. The clergymen felt that King should have waited for the new mayor to take office and King responded by stating how “we have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God-given rights.” He made a reference as to how other nations were gaining more ground in their political independence than we were in “gaining a cup of coffee at a lunch counter.” King goes on to explain why waiting is not an option because blacks just can’t continue to watch their families get lynched, drowned, beaten and even killed any longer. This racism forced blacks to bear whatever brutality the whites deemed fit for them. As King stated “ there comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over, and men are no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair.” King still shows respect by saying “sir” and hopes that they can “understand our legitimate and unavoidable impatience.” Everything that king was fighting for, was criticized by the clergymen. They tried to make it appear as if King and the other leaders were looking forward to the protests, as if they were blatantly willing to break the laws. Once again, King had to defend himself and the others by pointing out that there w...