Liu 1
Yeye Liu
Lauren Spears
English 124
28 September 2015
Injustice Hurts Everyone in Society
In the spring of 1963, without parade permit, there was a peaceful demonstration directed
by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his organization—the Southern Christian Leadership
Conference. This “unwise and untimely” anti-segregation march that was criticized by white
clergymen, resulted in Dr. King going to the jail. Dr. King decided to write a letter to point out
the serious problem of racial discrimination that existed in Birmingham, and he argued that the
black people have been waiting for just law for a long time, so there was no reason for them to
suffer this injustice anymore. In the letter, Dr. King is trying to show those people who do not
agree with his direct action that the city officials are not helping the black people to end
segregation; they cannot understand the racial injustice that black people suffered, and most of
people in society do not realize that everyone regardless of race have the rights to not suffer in
this unequal condition—all in hopes of persuading his audience that direct action is necessary
because it can open the door for negotiation, help them to end racism, and regain the rights to
live in a better world. Dr. King does not persist in expressing his dissatisfaction on the city’s
white power and clergymen’s critiques; instead, he provides some rational analysis and
emotionless explanations to embody the necessity of direct action.
In order to convince his audience about his point of view of direct action is necessary, Dr.
King gives many examples of unjust treatments happening in the black community. Dr. King
describes the event of the racist, Eugene “Bull” Connor, who was defeated in the election, and he
Liu 2
writes, “Lamentably, it is an historical fact that privileged groups seldom give up their privileges
voluntarily” (40). The author is suggesting that no matter how many community leaders have
been changed, there is an unchanged fact that every privileged people are all satisfied with the
status quo unless they are under the intense oppressing. He utilizes the historical fact in support
to the event of election, and demonstrates that the privileged white people still plays a leading
role in the society, and there is no way to let them to give up their dominant rights. So, Dr. King
shows his audience that the black people would not receive equal treatments although the leader
has changed. If the black people never stand out and keep pressure on them, they are not going to
deal with the racist issue. This example helps audience to better understand why the direct action
is necessary. In addition, Dr. King subtly refers to the viewpoints of Socrates:
It was necessary to create a tension in the mind so that individual could rise from
