Martin Luther King\'s Letter to the Alabama

¶ … Martin Luther King's Letter to the Alabama clergymen written while he is jailed in Birmingham Jail, it is apparent in Luther's reaction that the clergymen disagrees with Luther's course of action, that is, to protest in a "nonviolent," yet "direct" action (par. 7). The clergymen described King's actions in Alabama as "unwise and untimely," since his actions and protests against racial discrimination, according to the clergymen, only brought up tension and pressure to the somewhat peaceful status of the Birmingham society. The action taken by King's group was unwise because of the increased tension that the protests had brought in the society, and untimely, since many of the white American population sees the racial discrimination problem as something that will be solved "in due time," an issue that King termed as the white American society's belief in the "myth of time" (par. 19). The clergymen's disapproval of King and Co.'s actions illustrate that the clergymen's overall response to the Civil Rights Movement is that of resignation, resignation to the fact that racial prejudice in the American society is inevitable, and will eventually be resolved in 'due time.' Thus, the Alabama clergymen's disagreement to the King's action of protest against racial prejudice is also a direct disagreement to the Civil Rights Movement, because it breaks the status quo of the society (par. 35).

2. Martin Luther King's letter to the Alabama clergymen also confronted the issue of the latter's reaction to King's action protests because his actions only agitate the 'peaceful' Birmingham society, leading them to remark that the tension presently happening in Birmingham was caused by 'outsiders.' In the first part of King's letter, he stated that the clergymen's reaction to the increased tension in Birmingham is "influenced by the argument of 'outsiders coming in'" (par. 2), stating that the reason for his coming to Birmingham is not merely to intrude and bring social unrest to the people, but to help the black American society in bringing justice to all the cruelty and inequality that they had experienced for many years. In fact, the clergymen's argument that King and his group are 'outsiders' is only a mere insult, a questioning of the group's ability to help bring out the Civil Rights Movement. However, King treats this indirect form of skepticism and insult by answering in a matter-of-fact manner that he has had profound experience in dealing with social injustices and prejudice cases among black Americans, stating that he has been "president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization in every Southern state," and is directly involved in the organization of "a nonviolent direct action program... If deemed necessary" (par. 2). This 'intrusion' and involvement of 'outsiders' like King in his protest against racial discrimination can be reflected and is parallel to the present American foreign policy, wherein the American government is involved in helping out poor nations who are currently in strife and in dire need of help because of their own government's oppression, or sometimes, due to a civil war. Take for example the foreign aid America has given to Afghanistan citizens during the war against terrorism between the Taliban regime and American government. The provision of food and other essential needs of the Afghans by the Americans are criticized by other nations as the 'American way' of earning the sympathy and help of the Afghans in tracking down the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden and the Taliban. However, this viewpoint is greatly biased, since an objective person who sees another offering goodwill to others (like King's organization), may view the American help to the Afghans as one of compassion, wherein the American government tries its best, even in small ways, to alleviate the suffering, hunger, and strife of the Afghan people due to the oppression of the Taliban government.