Why We Can t Wait By Martin Luther King - 902 Words

Martin Luther King’s work, â€Å"Why We Can’t Wait,† describes the struggles of being an African American in the United States in the 1960s. He opens the book with a brief comparison of two young black children, a boy living in Harlem, New York, and a girl living in Birmingham, Alabama. Both children live in poverty and in a world with limited opportunities. By drawing this comparison, King confirms that racism is a national problem and not only a problem present in the South. King illustrates throughout the book that racism and discrimination not only affects African American families, but also white families. He describes opportunities that both races miss because of discrimination. The missed opportunities include: park closings because of the refusal to abide by a court ruling to have them integrated, baseball teams disbanded instead of letting black players join, and lastly, an orchestra refusing to come to Birmingham to perform for a segregated audience. Tw o very important themes that are illustrated throughout the book are hatred and moving forward. These themes are expressed and examined by King throughout the book and provide insight on the damaging effects of racism and what Americans should do to improve these conditions. Throughout the book King describes the hatred that African Americans endured in the 1960s. King states, â€Å"The newspaper of May 4 carried pictures of prostrate women, and policemen bending over them with raised clubs; of children marching up to theShow MoreRelatedWhy We Can t Wait By Martin Luther King Jr1254 Words   |  6 PagesIn Why We Can’t Wait by Martin Luther King Jr, Martin describes the weather and also implies that the civil rights movement were like the severe weather in 1962-63. He compared the harsh weather with the discrimination that black people were trying to overcome. In addition, black people were facing judgment, unfairness, poverty and lack of education. However, today black peo ple often can get what they want and they come together and fight for their freedom and justice. Martin defines the year betweenRead MoreWhy We Can t Wait By Martin Luther King, Jr.994 Words   |  4 PagesIn the narrative Why We Can’t Wait by Martin Luther King, Jr., published in 1964, King describes the struggles African Americans faced to receive equal rights. During the 1960s the Civil Rights movement was in full swing. The year 1963 is referred to as the beginning of the â€Å"Negro Revolution†. In the introduction of this narrative King compares the lives of two African American children. By using one child from Harlem, New York and one from Birmingham, Alabama, King explains how they faced similarRead MoreWhy We Can t Wait By Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.918 Words   |  4 Pages Why We Can’t Wait, a book by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., gives insight on the matters that occurred in Birmingham, 1963. Relation between the races have progressed since the sixties, but they could be better. This piece of literature should be read by all, if only to get a bet ter understanding of history. Knowledge and ignorance, I feel, are key factors in what make relations between the races either good or bad. MLK gives great insight on the happenings in 1963 Birmingham, as well as the more overseenRead MoreComparing Martin Luther King And Malcolm X917 Words   |  4 Pagescontrast Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were both civil rights leaders during the 1960s, but had different ideologies on how civil rights should be won. Both men were also deeply religious, but followed different religions and paths. The Great Depression never ended for African Americans; while others enjoyed an economic recovery, Black unemployment rose. Martin Luther King says that economic inequality in America became particularly obvious in 1963 (King, 23).Read MoreEssay Letter From Birmingham Jail1025 Words   |  5 PagesThe â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail† written by one of the key figures of the civil rights movement, Martin Luther King Jr., is one of the most powerful and influential writings in american history. The letter was written while he and fellow protestors were being held in custody for protesting in the city of Birmingham, Alabama. King was a very passionate and selfless man. He only had love in his heart for all living beings regardless of their race or religion. He believed in a peaceful way of protestRead MoreThe Letter From Birmingham Jail 1321 Words   |  6 Pagesyou have seen hate-filled policemen curse, kick and even kill your black brothers and sister† (King). Child ren ripped apart from their families, not being able to socialize with certain people, or even go to the local amusement park. It was a hard time to be a colored person, and there was one hope. Martin Luther King, Jr. believed that one day blacks and whites could one day come together peacefully. King tried to do what he believed was right with everything in his will to finally join forces andRead MoreArgumentative Synthesis Letter from Birmingham Jail1535 Words   |  7 Pagesvision such as Rev. Dr. Luther King Jr. Kings letter from Birmingham reflects his opinion that peace and non-violence were vital in achieving desegregation and important human rights for African Americans throughout the nation during the 1960’s. The â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail† was an appeal to the general African American population to lay down their weapons and rest their spite filled minds. He uses pleas to emotions, logic and to history in order to portray his vision. King famously pre ached toRead MoreThe Civil Rights Movement : Martin Luther King Jr.1305 Words   |  6 Pagesother minorities in the country. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the most famous civil rights activists that ever lived. In 1963, King delivered a letter he wrote in Birmingham City Jail due to nonviolent resistance participation which was unapproved by a group of white clergymen. In this letter, King addresses these clergymen’s critics about the demonstrations being unwise and untimely, and saying that the participants of such were outsiders coming in. King points out how whites are disturbedRead MoreEssay on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and The Civil Rights Movement2125 Words   |  9 PagesMartin Luther King jr. was one of the most influential persons of the 20th Century. He is the father of the modern civil rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is recognized around the world as a symbol of freedom as well as peace. King practiced everything that he preached, he did not preach or speak values that he himself did not follow. He established himself as a pastor that was not afraid of hard work, guid ing the middle-class congregation to public service. For example, Peake, ThomasRead MoreThe Rhetorical Triangle : Ethos, Pathos, Logos1696 Words   |  7 Pagesability to convince and address his or her audience using three different areas that form the Rhetorical Triangle: Ethos, Pathos, and Logos. The strongest area of the Triangle based off the letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr in one’s opinion is Pathos. Although King uses all three repeatedly in his letter, Pathos is the most expressed area throughout this letter. Through his use of ethos in the way of fairness yet with authority to his audience, logos through facts and statistic, it