張遠(yuǎn)艷　羅瑞

【Abstract】“Letter from Birmingham Jail” is written by Martin Luther King，Jr.，who is a famous American civil rights leader.This essay attempts to analyze three major arguments in this letter to arouse peoples consciousness to cherish and protect our freedom.

【Key words】Martin Luther King； imprison； segregation； freedom

“Letter from Birmingham Jail”is written by Martin Luther King，Jr.，who is a famous American civil rights leader.At that time，King was imprisoned in the Birmingham city jail because he led a non-violent protest against segregation and was arrested.In the jail，King read a statement made by some clergymen.The clergymen called the protest led by King“unwise and untimely”.“Letter from Birmingham Jail”is a response to that statement.King began the letter with an explanation of what they did.At that time，segregation in Birmingham was very serious.Black people were forced to take actions，because the city.s white power left them with no other choice but demonstrations.King said that a community who had been refused to negotiate had to take action--- non-violent direct action.The black people in Birmingham had waited for a long time before taking action.The purpose of the action was to force the white power system to negotiate the requests for desegregation.As King said，“Wait has almost always meant never.Freedom is not given by the oppressors voluntarily；it must be requested by the oppressed.”King stated，“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”He carefully elaborated the differences between unjust laws and just laws.Laws should be made to protect people not to oppress people.King also expressed his great disappointment at the white moderate and church.As he said，“In deep disappointment I have wept over the laxity of the church.There can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love.”At last，King ended his letter by saying that he hoped that the church would see its duties and responsibilities and would help abolish segregation so that everybody would have equal rights.

Marin Luther King Jr，the author of this letter，is not an unfamiliar name to many people.He is well-known as both an effective writer and a civil right leader.He made a great contribution to American civil right movement.Many people have read his famous speech“I ve a dream”While reading “Letter from Birmingham jail”，most people were impressed by his strong and affective words and his emotions.This letter is a response to the clergymen.s statement which criticized the demonstration led by King.He wrote this letter in such a heartfelt and inoffensive voice even though he was under so severe circumstance.

There are three major arguments in this letter.

First，in the clergymen.s statement，they said “outsiders coming in”They thought King and several members of his staff as “outsiders”.King explained that they were not outsiders.He said，“Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered as outsider anywhere within its bounds.”All people are brothers and sisters.Anybody should give a hand to those who are in trouble.“Whatever affects one directly，affects all indirectly.”So it is everybody.s duty and responsibility.Anyone can not be considered as an outsider.

Second，the clergymen thought that the non-violent demonstration against segregation which was led by Martin Luther King Jr.was “unwise and untimely”.Martin Luther King Jr.refuted their statement that their actions were unwise and untimely.This was the major argument in his letter.King definitely defined their demonstrations as wise and timely.They had waited for a long time to take this action.He thought that it was the right time to take action.The black people in Birmingham had waited for many years and couldn.t wait any longer for the negotiation with the white power system.The black people learned from their painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor；they must strive for freedom by themselves.They didn.t want to rely on anybody to give them freedom.Their freedom was grasped in their own hands.

Third is King.s explanation of the differences between just laws and unjust laws.The clergymen expressed a great deal of anxiety over the black peoples willingness to break laws.King elaborated and defined what just laws were and what unjust laws were.He used several examples to support his arguments.Those examples and citations added to his credibility.He thought that laws should be made to protect people not to oppress people.A just law should be applicable for all people no matter whether he is white or black.Otherwise，it.s an unjust law.

In this letter，there are many good points.But what I like and agree most is that King said that “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor； it must be demanded by the oppressed.” Every human being in the world is equal.We should have the equal rights.Freedom is a human beings basic and most crucial right.As for the slaves in the past，they didnt have freedom.They were real human beings； they were just properties of slave owners.The slave owners never wanted to give freedom to their slaves，because that might affect their interest.The slaves must gain their freedom by themselves.

A person.s freedom is only comparatively free，cannot be absolutely free.One cannot say that “Im free.I can do anything I want to do.”In the society，one.s behaviors must be confined by laws and moralities.Im taking an event in China as an example.Several years ago，many people who practiced Falun Gong led a sit-in movement in front of Zhongnanhai---Chinese political center.This movement could also be called non-violent movement，but it was not positive.They led the movement to ask for“the freedom of belief and religion.”According to Chinese constitution，Chinese citizens have the freedom of belief and religion.But in my opinion，the prerequisite of freedom of belief and religion is that the belief and religion must be normal and healthy.Falun Gong was an abnormal and unhealthy religion.Because some people who practiced Falun Gong were not willing to eat or go to see the doctor even if they were seriously sick.Because they believed that the “God” they believed in would help them and they were not average people.They believed that they would not die，because their“God”would rescue them.Some people even committed suicide or murdered their family members after practicing Falun Gong，because they believed that they would meet their“God”and live a better life after their death.So Falun Gong is an evil religion.The movement they led is also not for justice.Its totally different from the movement against segregation which was for justice.Therefore，not all non-violent movement is for justice.As a citizen of any country，one only has the limited freedom.

In conclusion，Letter from Birmingham Jail is a great representative work of Martin Luther King Jr.，the world-famous civil right leader and writer.

References：

[1]Huang Wanxin.All Men are Created Euqal.English on Campus，2015.

[2]俞可.美國教育的“黑”與“白”.開放教育研究.2013.

[3]清遠(yuǎn).馬丁·路德·金生平.英語沙龍.1998.

[4]楊德印.馬丁·路德·金-為黑人權(quán)利而奮斗的戰(zhàn)士.文化譯從.1987.

作者簡介：

張遠(yuǎn)艷，女，（1982-），漢族，云南文山人，文山學(xué)院外國語學(xué)院講師，研究方向：英語教學(xué)法和英美文化研究。

羅瑞，女，云南馬關(guān)人，（1982.01-），文山學(xué)院外國語學(xué)院講師，研究方向：英語語言文學(xué)。