Martin Luther King Jr, a national political figure, was crucial to the Civil rights Movement. Such movement was determined to change the corrupt law system by participating in multiple demonstrations—such as the march on Washington, D.C to fight inequality. The mass demonstration organized by civil rights groups was essential to put an end to wrongful laws. This form of movement involves many individuals, refusing to articulate policy demands or to embrace old ideologies. Movements are a powerful force since they break from the traditions of political organizations. Thomas Jefferson, Henry David Thoreau, and Martin Luther King Jr, emphasize on the dilemma of just and unjust laws that goes on in society. Granted, taking action upon an issue …show more content…
His immediate message was to convince Americans across the country to embrace racial equality and to further strengthen the Civil Rights Movement. In “Civil Disobedience” by Thoreau, states, “It is not a man’s duty, as a matter of course, to devote himself to the eradication of any, even the most enormous, wrong: he may still properly have other concerns to engage him; but it is his duty, at least, to wash his hands of it…” (203). Most individuals live blindly to what a law has provided for society, even if they disagree upon it. Consequently, rather than developing a plan for change, they more often than not, obey such laws. Thoreau emphases on the idea that an individual must “wash his hands” of injustice and not be associated with something they believed was wrongful. In comparison, King was dedicated in ending segregation and create a change of equality, freedom, and segregation. Similarly, in “Letter from Birmingham Jail, King states, “One has not only a legal but moral responsibility to obey just laws laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws” (239). It became a moral responsibility for Thoreau and King to abolish many unjust law. In addition, instead of driving its power from what the majority has provided, it is the people’s obligation to do what they believe is right and not follow the law dictated by the …show more content…
In the beginning of King’s speech, he referred to the Emancipation Proclamation to say that it gave hope to African Americans, that all slaves will have their freedom just like how it was promised. In “The Declaration of Independence” by Thomas Jefferson, states, “ We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that are endowed by their Creator which certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (221). By the controversial issue between racism and equality, it was difficult to face the idea that slaves had a voice to stand forward to persist with a social change. Granted, this country was founded on equality and the notion that everyone should have the same opportunities. Unfortunately, as for African-Americans it was rather unjust for all men to be equal. Martin Luther King Jr, took the leading step in wanting to change social racism for equality. Henceforth, The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by president Abraham Lincoln which allowed salves living in states not under the Union to be free. Also, King discussed the Declaration of Independence to further strengthen his claim. For example, in his speech he delivers this quote, “This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be
Martin Luther King Jr. “I Have a Dream” speech was delivered as motivation to fight for their rights and help paint the picture of what America could look like in the future. He does this by in the beginning saying that even though the Emancipation Proclamation was signed African Americans are not treated as normal citizens. By saying this Martin Luther King Jr. was saying we should not just be content with being free from slavery. That now it is time to fight for our rights and to end discrimination because of the color on one’s skin.
The idea of challenging an unreasonable law is central to both King, Jr.'s and Thoreau's plights, though each have very distinct characteristics unique to themselves. In King, Jr.'s case, he saw segregation and racial discrimination as mistakes on the part of the government and he set out to make substantial changes to the status quo. In doing so, he acted upon Thoreau's concept that every person retains the right to judge civil laws for decency and credibility. "One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws," (Birmingham Jail 82). Should one find the law to be in the best interest of each individual as well as society as a whole, he should abide by it and make every effort to live by its standard. But reversely, should the law be found guilty of evil intentions and causing more harm than good, it is the duty of every person under that law to disregard it and make an attempt "to wash his hands of it, and, if he gives it no thought longer, not to give it practically his support," (Disobedience 6).
“All machines have their friction―and possibly this does enough good to counterbalance the evil… But when the friction comes to have its machine… I say, let us not have such a machine any longer” (Thoreau 8). In Henry David Thoreau’s essay “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience,” the author compares government to a machine, and its friction to inequity. He believes that when injustice overcomes a nation, it is time for that nation’s government to end. Thoreau is ashamed of his government, and says that civil disobedience can fight the system that is bringing his country down. Alas, his philosophy is defective: he does not identify the benefits of organized government, and fails to recognize the danger of a country without it. When looked into, Thoreau’s contempt for the government does not justify his argument against organized democracy.
talks about how African Americans in the South were being arrested and publicly chastened by the police force for their nonviolent protests. But, he extols these protests because of what they stand for. He says they “…preserve the evil system of segregation…I wish you had commended the Negro demonstrators of Birmingham for their sublime courage, their willingness to suffer, and their amazing discipline in the midst of the most inhuman provocation” (94). Because these people were aiming to end the discrimination they were facing, and did this in a peaceful manner that respected their Judeo-Christian values that all men are created equal, King saw it as exactly what this oppressed group needed. They needed a push of confidence to know that they were being treated unjustly, and that they did have the power to stand up to
King uses his position of being an American clergy man, devout Christian and a leader of the civil rights movement in order to push for civil rights against racial segregation and prejudices and bring more recognition and light towards African Americans. King uses various words and phrases to achieve the emotions of the audience to sympathize his state and to understand the sacrifices he has made towards the civil rights movement. Unlike Martin Luther King, Thoreau did not rule out using violence against an unjust government. When reviewing the rhetorical appeals of logos, ethos and pathos, King achieved a clear, more concise essay with greater emotional depth and a more relatable personality.
Dr. Martin Luther King addressed many topics in, “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. He answered all the issues that were aimed towards him in a very skillful and well thought out manner. These issues came from, “A Call For Unity”, which was a letter published by eight local clergymen expressing their feelings about what Dr. King was doing. One concern in particular that King did an outstanding job of confronting was that of the clergymen’s anxiety about him breaking the law. King addresses the question of, “How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?” by clarifying that there are just and unjust laws. He also goes on to explain the difference between the two, the effect of unjust laws on the people that they are aimed towards, as
“Civil Disobedience” follows Henry Thoreau’s ideology as to what he believes is “a better government”. Throughout the text Thoreau develops multiple central ideas such as ethics and the relationship between the individual and the state to back up his claims and thoughts. Thoreau points and calls out the governments behavior towards its people and its unjust actions.
In Henry David Thoreau’s 1849 essay, Civil Disobedience, he argues the necessity of resistance to an unintentional evil, a political organization of the free, who of which are free to own slaves. In the essay, Thoreau stated that the best government is one that doesn’t governs at all. In a free society, a government is meant to protect its citizens from any blockade that prevents its citizens from equality among men. Without equality, and a government that acts in favor of removing the socio political disadvantages of the minority, beneficial change is destined to fail. An effective government is free society once it allows all of its citizens an equal chance at life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. So in a truly free society, there would be no need for any sort of resistance. So if there is any form of oppression instituted by a political organization that is met with resistance by any portion of the population, the only impact it could have on a free society would be positive since a free society
Mark Twain once asserted, “Loyalty to the Nation all the time, loyalty to the Government when it deserves it.” In relation to Henry David Thoreau’s essay “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience”, this quote by Twain could be used to summarize the entire essay. Upon reading the opening of the essay, Thoreau’s views on the government seemed to be opaque as he would often switch sides. He would start a debate on why the government is “evil” in one paragraph, and in the next say they are an essential establishment in society since they are the best-known form of maintaining order. Although Thoreau’s views on the government seemed to be unclear at the start, he makes them very evident towards the ending. Let us investigate the two sides of his views
...goals, they both discuss similar topics of morality and justice under a government’s rule. In hopes of informing and motivating people, Thoreau and King explain how and why these people should take non-violent action towards unjust laws. From each author’s vivid examples and brilliant analogies, we learn the importance of fighting for justice and maintaining morality. Most importantly, Thoreau and King argue in favor of civil disobedience not only to inspire a fight for freedom from the government, but also to ensure that the people’s God given rights and rights to individuality are preserved for generations.
In Henry David Thoreau's essay “Civil Disobedience”, he analyzes the people’s relationship to the state and focuses on why individuals follow governmental policies and laws even when they believe it to be unfair. He mentions his view of “the state” and with his classification of citizens as those who serve the state with their “bodies”, those who serve it with their “heads”, and those who serve it with their “consciences”. As I see it, everything he says is very accurate if you look at it objectively.
The ideas of King are very similar to the ideas of Thoreau. Moreover, the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” shows that King, read the writings of many famous people. From these two reasons, King had probably read “Civil Disobedience” as an important document regarding justice and injustice. Therefore, the positions of the two writers are very close, and they cite conscience as a guide to obeying just laws.
In his speech, King uses different types of rhetorical guidelines. He uses them to show his points in a better and easier way to understand .At the beginning he successfully uses a mythos. A mythos has a deep explanatory or symbolic resonance for the audience. In mentioning the Emancipation Proclamation he shows that our ancestors signed a contract, in which all human beings are created equal, and therefore should be treated in the same way as others. He also visualizes his ideas with visual examples, which everybody can understand. “America has given the black population a bad check, which has come back marked insufficient funds”( I Have a Dream)
On the day of his “I Have a Dream” speech, King stood upon the steps of the Lincoln Memorial located in the heart of our nation’s capital. This location was essential to King’s success because it was a symbol of our nation’s historic efforts to abolish the enslavement of African-Americans; an act which was made possible due to the valiant efforts of Abraham Lincoln. As the preponderance of the speech began, King made reference to the former president in what Peter Paris said was a “Declaration proclaimed to America on behalf of all African people”. King stated, “Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice” (I Have a Dream 2). Through these words, he was able to mimic the tone and style of Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address while also evoking remembrance of the nation’s harsh past. The signing of one such bill, the Emancipation Proclamation, was the first time in history that African-Americans were able to progress in the social order. King tied this into his argument by introducing the concept that other laws could be enacted in order to allow the African-American population to continue
King begins his speech by referencing important historical documents such as the Constitution of the United States and the Emancipation Proclamation. This is emphasized when he states, ”Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation...But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free”. Which shows how even though the Emancipation Proclamation freed the African Americans from slavery, they still are not free because of segregation. He then transitions to the injustice and suffering that the African Americans face. He makes this