English Seminar

1)      What are the similarities between Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and his other renowned statement to the public, the “I Have a Dream” speech?

To witness one man put in writing the equivalent amount of voice and tone he would have used when delivering a message orally is quite rightly mind boggling. It is for sure the work of a highly skilled writer. Not to say that he wasn’t a proficient orator as well but the effective implementation of expression in his writing transcended his note to another level. This much was apparent; Martin Luther King Jr. certainly had a way with words. His “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and the famous “I have a Dream” speech were clear examples of an exceptional grasp of the English language. Essentially they both conveyed the same point of how the longstanding oppression of the “Negro” was long overdue and what had to be done to combat it. In both the means of communication, Martin Luther King Jr. did not deliver his case, instead he preached it. “Let it ring”, “now is the time”, “we will not be satisfied” and of course “I have a Dream” were some of the everlasting phrases that echoed around the Lincoln Memorial in 1963. As a way of keeping his listener or reader interested, the Nobel Peace Prize winner presented his views in a different and intriguing manner. In his letter to his fellow clergymen from inside the confines of a tiny prison cell, the former minister wrote "… remain true to it as long as the cord of life shall lighten” when discussing the role the church had played in helping blacks to attain freedom. And similarly in his speech to one of the largest communions ever recorded, the reverend stated with deafening lethality “One hundred years later the life of the negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination” displaying his dedication to the cause and how he once again used expressions in his letter and speech.    

2)      How did Martin Luther King Jr.’s views on racial oppression compare with those of Malcolm X.?  

It is safe to say that the moral values of Martin Luther King Jr. rarely came under suspicion. Sadly the same cannot be said for Malcolm X whose true intentions were often shrouded in doubt. The biggest difference between the pair was probably that the latter did not support the non violent stance of the civil rights movement. Malcolm X believed that a more aggressive approach would be more prudent in earning his people their freedom. In fact he was so influential that many blacks stated that he was a better representative of their community than the civil rights members. During his more youthful years, Malcolm X preached black supremacy and advocated the separation of blacks and Caucasians vividly displaying how farfetched his views were from Martin Luther King’s. He was even on several occasions accused of being anti-Semitic and a “downright racist”. However his views did change substantially over the years as he eventually worked with civil rights leader and unequivocally disavowed racism. Despite the endless controversy which engulfed him during his lifetime, Malcolm X is considered to be one of the most influential men in history and a brilliant man who could have been even more.      

3)      What were the main reasons for Martin Luther King Jr. of all people being the one to make a significant change concerning racial discrimination and how did he instill his beliefs and passion in his letter?  

                       

Martin Luther King Jr. descended from a long line of reverends and church affiliates which went a long way in forming some of his beliefs and ideologies. Even though times were most challenging for the black man during his childhood, the renowned freedom fighter came from a relatively affluent background. He exploited this affluence in a financial manner as he quickly graduate from high school and earned numerous degrees from several universities. Through his education he learned of Mahatma Gandhi and Howard Stern who proved to be greatly influential from him. Enlightened by how they had dealt with their tougher times, Martin Luther King knew that the only way to raise the social standing of the “negro” was through peace. It was during a visit to the birthplace of Gandhi where this was affirmed and a sequence of “non violent direct action” rallies and gatherings ensued. And when he spoke to the masses he used what he had learned. His knowledge was staggering. His emotions heartfelt. His vision clear enough to see even from the farthest ranging of horizons. The reverend inspired his fellow man through chanting and repeating the definitive points of a particular lecture. Through precise details and recounting of what life was like under the darkness of racism, he gave the people a sense of unfortunate familiarity and how they couldn’t withstand it anymore.  

4)      How critical was Martin Luther King’s Christian background in eventually helping him emerge victorious against bigotry.  

It wasn’t just that he was Christian which was important. It was how deeply rooted his faith was within the religion. In fact as a boy, the man who became one of the best known ministers of all time was quite skeptical of many of the teachings within the bible. Soon however his beliefs were transformed from moderate to devout. Once he was leader of the civil rights movement, he often spoke of his acceptance of other religions and cultures as well. He credited this to Christianity and how the “God Almighty” had placed him on the “path to righteousness”. Martin Luther King’s involvement with his religion was also contributive to how he would pursue freedom and equality through peace. It was indeed a mixture of God’s and Gandhi’s influence upon him which was arguably his most critical lesson as it changed the future of the blacks forever.    

5)      If alive today, would Martin Luther King Jr. be content with the state of not only America but the world in terms of persecution and intolerance?   

It’s a matter of opinion really but it is likely that Martin Luther King would be pleased with the progress the United States and the world has made in making bigotry and injustice extinct. Although it is imperative to note that he wouldn’t refute the obvious need for further improvement either. But one cannot deny that the people of this world have come a long way from the valleys of oppression and hatred. Yes there are parts of the world which are completely grief stricken and in the midst of dire confusion but to consider that at one point in history, it was near impossible for two people of different skin color to simply converse, it is unthinkable that there is no hope for the world today. While moving forward, the human race has trudged off occasionally but definitely. And to think how simplistic Martin Luther King’s hopes really were. “I have a dream that one day little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers” was one of his greatest dreams. Though that came true, there are still countless problems the world faces. Thankfully in the general public of the world, acceptance and love has settled in and the countless problems only originate from what are minorities. We witness interracial marriages and relations all the time and while adversity may loom, Martin Luther King will be proud of the unity within the human race.  

Works Cited

·       Letter From Birmingham Jail

·       "Martin Luther King - I Have A Dream - August 28, 1963 - YouTube." YouTube. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smEqnnklfYs>.

·       "Martin Luther King, Jr." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.>.

·       "Malcolm X." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_X>.

·       "Letter from Birmingham Jail." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_from_Birmingham_Jail>.

·       "I Have a Dream." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Have_a_Dream>.

·       "I Have A Dream Speech - Martin Luther King Speeches." Martin Luther King Online - Speeches, Pictures, Quotes, Biography, Videos of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.!Web. 13 Oct. 2011. <http://www.mlkonline.net/dream.html>.