Martin Luther King was a civil rights leader who called for the end of racial desegregation in Birmingham. King and his associated spearheaded sit-ins, on violent protests, marches, and conflicts with the aim of raising awareness concerning the injustices that were being committed towards the blacks. The direct non-violent action aimed to call for an end to racial segregation and the unequal treatment of the African Americans. King was sent to jail because he held the protests without having the required permits. While he was in jail, He wrote the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” to react to the criticism from the fellow clergymen. King loved the truth and justice, and he hoped that through the nonviolent direct action, he would touch the conscience of the white moderates who encouraged racial segregation. All American citizens ought to be politically active to help in fighting the injustices in the society. Arguably, Americans are interrelated thus they should be affected by the things that affect their fellow countrymen. States and communities ought to unite to create a good environment for all the Americans regardless of their racial backgrounds.
In his letter “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” Martin Luther King junior states that “I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny”(1). Instead of sitting idly or reaming unconcerned about the things that are affecting American in other states or communities, American citizens should be actively involved in political activities aimed at helping the other Americans. American should not turn a blind eye to the injustice that is happening other Americans because the injustices will affect them indirectly. Americans have mutual relationships with each other; Martin Luther believes that the destiny of all the Americans is one that is why they must be politically active in times of injustice. Being politically active helps in shaping the destiny of all the communities in America. Americans should not accept the idea of regarding other people as “outsider agitators” because they are one people. Americans should fight for the common good of their country by exercising their political responsibilities. Besides, political activism fights for the God-given rights of all people. All people have the right to enjoy their unalienable rights without discrimination. However, instances in the society hinder some people from enjoying the rights.
King retaliates that it is hard for one to wait “when you are harried by day and haunted by night by the fact that you are a Negro, constantly living at tiptoe stance, never quite knowing what to expect next, and are plagued with inner fears and outer resentments; when you are forever fighting a degenerating sense of “nobodiness” (3). The humiliation of the African-Americans in the society creates an urgent need for all the Americans to be politically active. The political actives will be helpful in confronting the injustices that result in the resentment of African-Americans All people have the right to experience their full potential in life without being limited by the feeling of “nobodiness.” King believes that political activeness is imperative for the African-Americans to lead lives of dignity. When American citizens are politically active, they demand the respect of human rights. The political activeness will help in promoting respect for the rights of all people which are the constitutional and God-given rights. American citizens should not keep quiet when they realize that the rights of others are being trampled on by others. Markedly, political activism creates tension that is crucial for the oppressed to find closure. On violent actions expose the tension that is hidden in the hearts of the American citizens. King admits that “We (nonviolent protestors) merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive. We bring it out in the open, where it can be seen and dealt with” (5).Through political activism, American citizens expose the tension that is created by injustice.
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The tension cannot be cured if it is not exposed through non-violent action. Political activism indicates that the America citizens have a human conscience and they are concerned about the injustices that are happening in the society. The national opinion is based on the political activism of all the American citizens. The American citizens have the responsibility of demonstrating that they are committed to truth and justice through their involvement in the nonviolent direct action. The fact that the non-violent direct action may precipitate violence should not dissuade American citizens from fighting for the rights that are guaranteed by the constitution to all the American citizens. Political activism should be aimed at punishing the people that perpetuate injustice and protecting the victims of injustice. All people should enjoy the constitutional rights without interference from any person. American citizens should come to the aid of their counterparts which could be facing discriminatory tendencies that hinder them from enjoying their basic rights in the same way the King offered his life to fight to the rights of the Americans.
In conclusion, through political activeness, Americans can handle the injustices that have plagued America for many years. Patriotic Americans ought to demonstrate that they are concerned about the injustice that is inflicted on some citizens such as the African Americans. Political activities can play an instrumental role in creating an environment where all Americans from diverse races can coexist with one another in a peaceful. Political activism should focus on the promotion of the God-given rights of all the American citizens. Political activeness can create a peaceful society where racial backgrounds do not discriminate people. Political activeness is crucial for human rights to be enjoyed in the American society. Americans should support each other in matters that relate to justice. The support will be crucial in fostering respect among people from diverse races. Injustice creates tension among people, and Americans have the responsibility of minimizing the tension through political activism.
